Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

Summary Ophthalmology Technicians in the Orlando VA Healthcare System support Ophthalmologists in diagnosis - treatment - prevention - follow-up care and patient counseling. Summary Ophthalmology Technicians in the Orlando VA Healthcare System support Ophthalmologists in diagnosis - treatment - prevention - follow-up care and patient counseling. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy English Language Proficiency In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English Experience and Education-Transcripts Submitted Experience One year of experience in a health care field - such as but not limited to nursing - medical assistant - or health technician OR Education Two years above high school with a minimum of six semester hours directly related to a health care field or associate's degree in a health care related degree OR Experience/Education Combination Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying Examples are listed below: Six months of experience in the health care field and one year above high school or Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for health care technicians - hospital corpsmen - medical service specialists - or ophthalmology technicians given by the U.S. Armed Forces or Six months of experience in the health care field and completion of an independent study course in Ophthalmic Medical Assisting Certification.-Documentation Submitted All applicants must be certified as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) with the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO) The COA certification is JCAHPO's entry-level certification examination for a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) Note on Foreign Education To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria) ??????? Grade Determinations: GS-8 Experience One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA) In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation Ability to perform calculations for selection of intraocular lens Knowledge of clinic based ophthalmic surgical assisting Knowledge of eye anatomy and physiology Knowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eye Knowledge of optics and Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment Preferred Experience: Certified COA/COT/COMT Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - the ability to distinguish basic colors - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and above average manual dexterity This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - kneeling - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing moderately heavy objects - and reaching and stretching to set up and take apart equipment Lifting - positioning - and transferring patients and objects of 45 pounds and over may be required The incumbent may have regular and recurring exposure to infectious and contagious diseases - contaminated materials - odors - and other risks which require special health and safety precautions such as wearing protective clothing like gloves - masks - or lead aprons This position is evaluated as category level I in accordance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards the position requires the performance of tasks that involve exposure to blood and potentially infectious body fluids The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations and able to shift priorities based on patient needs High levels of physical energy and stamina are needed to cope with the demands of this rigorous job Good strength and well-developed musculoskeletal function are necessary for occasional lifting - positioning - or transferring of sedated patients Highly refined dexterity is necessary to handle the demands of sophisticated procedural equipment Excellent visual skills are necessary for evaluating the clinical status of patients. Duties The Health Technician (Ophthalmology) performs a range of standard - but complex - diagnostic procedures - assists during clinic-based surgical procedures - educates patients and legal representatives - assists with the education of medical students and residents Duties include but are not limited to: Checks and performs calibration of technical ophthalmology screening instruments Obtains patient physical history - to include chief complaint reason for visit pertinent signs and symptoms current medication allergies past ocular and general medical history both ocular and general family history both ocular and general social history and review of medications and allergies - including current ocular prescription and nonprescription medications Accurately tests visual acuity at distance and near - with and without correction or with and without a pinhole Measures eyeglass prescription using manual or automated lensometer - recording sphere - cylinder - axis - and prism in both plus and minus cylinder Performs pupil evaluation recording pupil size - shape - symmetry - reaction to light and accommodation Performs swinging flashlight test to detect a relative afferent pupillary defect Performs basic refractometry utilizing an auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in the phoropter Instills eye medications (drops or ointments - including anesthetic - dye - dilating drops - cycloplegic drops - or antibiotics) Measures intraocular pressure with standard techniques - including Goldmann applanation tonometry Performs pachymetry to determine corneal thickness and manual keratometry or automated topography to determine corneal curvature Performs intra-ocular lens calculations using an IOL Master or equivalent device Performs automated visual field testing using various perimetry machines Performs external photographs and fundus photography Performs optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior segment - retina and optic nerve Performs patient screening and triage of potentially urgent ocular conditions Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 0830-1700/ Alternate Saturdays 7:00-3:30 Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66 Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 81611F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. #J-18808-Ljbffr U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs