Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

Job Title

Health Technician Ophthalmology

Duties

The duties include:

• Performing optical coherence tomography of the anterior segment, retina and optic nerve.
• Measuring eyeglass prescription using manual or automated lensometer, recording sphere, cylinder, axis, and prism in both plus and minus cylinder.
• Performing pupil evaluation recording pupil size, shape, symmetry, reaction to light and accommodation, and any abnormalities, including relative afferent pupillary defect.
• Performing basic refractometry utilizing an auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in the phoropter.
• Instilling eye medications (i.e., drops or ointments, including anesthetic, dye, dilation, cycloplegic, or antibiotics), demonstrating proper technique and documenting the technician workup in the medical record.
• Measuring intraocular pressure of the eye utilizing techniques, including Goldmann applanation tonometry.
• Performing pachymetry to determine corneal thickness and manual keratometry or automated topography to determine corneal curvature.
• Performing intra-ocular lens (IOL) calculations using the IOL Master.
• Performing automated visual field testing using various perimetry machines.
• Performing external photographs and fundus photography.
• Performing advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation.
• Performing calculations for selection of intraocular lens.
• Assisting during clinic-based ophthalmic surgery, including revision of wounds, biopsies of the eyelid lesions, cultures of conjunctiva, or cornea; reformation of anterior chamber, evacuation of hyphema, repositioning of corneal endothelial grafts, intra-vitreous injections, and laser surgical procedures.
• Performing records management on a consistent basis, writing patient notes in a timely manner and in the proper format according to agency policy.
• Following universal precautions for employee protection during the performance of the health technician's duties in relation to the cleaning and processing of reusable medical equipment and the performance of assisting with eye injections and oculoplastic procedures.
• Reporting needed repairs to biomedical engineering.
• Educating patients and legal authorized representatives in eye care, including preoperative and postoperative instructions.
• Performing patient screening and triage emergencies identifying ocular emergencies.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, Day Shift

Pay

Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

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

This position may be authorized for ad-hoc telework which occurs on an occasional, non-routine basis and is utilized to complete short-term special assignments or to accommodate special circumstances even though the telework arrangement may occur continuously for a limited and specific period of time. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

Virtual

This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #

523-F1063_Health_Technician_Ophthalmology_GS-0640-05 (Entry Level)

523-F1064_Health_Technician_Ophthalmology_GS-0640-06 (Developmental Level 1)

523-F1065_Health_Technician_Ophthalmology_GS-0640-07 (Developmental Level 2)

523-F1066_Health_Technician_Ophthalmology_GS-0640-08 (Full Performance Level)

Notifications

• Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement.
• This position is a AFGE Bargaining Unit position.
• This position is covered by a special rate.
• Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.
• Current and permanent Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.