Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

Summary

This Health Technician (Ophthalmology) position is in the Surgery Service at the VA Boston Healthcare System (Jamaica Plain campus).

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Duties

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The incumbent serves as a member of the Ophthalmology Section at the VA Boston Healthcare System.

Duties include, but are not limited to :

• Performs optical coherence tomography of the anterior segment, retina and optic nerve.
• 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, and any abnormalities, including relative afferent pupillary defect.
• Performs basic refractometry utilizing an auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in the phoropter.
• Instills 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.
• Measures intraocular pressure of the eye utilizing 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 (IOL) calculations using the IOL Master.
• Performs automated visual field testing using various perimetry machines.
• Performs external photographs and fundus photography.
• Performs advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation.
• Performs calculations for selection of intraocular lens.
• Performs clinic based ophthalmic surgical assisting.
• Assists 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.
• Offers expertise of optics, eye anatomy and physiology.
• Oversees medication effects and proper instillation in the eye.
• Properly cleans and maintains clinic equipment, including cleaning of workstations and exam chairs, both before and after the exam.
• Wipes down public areas in the eye clinic during the day.
• Performs records management on a consistent basis, writing patient notes in a timely manner and in the proper format according to agency policy.
• Enters consults in a timely manner in accordance with accepted practices of the medical center.
• Maintains proper hygiene and infection controls at all times.
• Follows universal precautions for employee protection during the performance of the heath 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.
• Reports needed repairs to biomedical engineering.
• Educates patients and legal authorized representatives in eye care, including preoperative and postoperative instructions.
• Performs patient screening and triage emergencies identifying ocular emergencies.
• Performs patient screening and telephone triage for immediate care.
• Obtains patient physical history, to include chief complaint; reason for visit; pertinent signs / symptoms; past 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.

Work Schedule : Monday - Friday, 7 : 30 a.m. - 4 : 00 p.m.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus) : Not authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance) : Not authorized

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 : Not available

Virtual : This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # :

F1063_Health_Technician_Ophthalmology_GS-0640-05 (Entry Level)

F1064_Health_Technician_Ophthalmology_GS-0640-06 (Developmental Level 1)

F1065_Health_Technician_Ophthalmology_GS-0640-07 (Developmental Level 2)

F1066_Health_Technician_Ophthalmology_GS-0640-08 (Full Performance Level)

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not authorized

Financial Disclosure Report : Not Required

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

a. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States.

b. Experience and Education

(1) Experience. One year of experience in a health care field, such as but not limited to nursing, medical assistant, or health technician.

OR

(2) 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

(3) Experience / Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Examples are listed below :

(a) Six months of experience in the health care field; and one year above high school; or

(b) 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

(c) Six months of experience in the health care field and completion of an independent study course in Ophthalmic Medical Assisting.

c. Certification. 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).

Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

(1) Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-5 (Entry Level)

(a) Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

(b) Assignment. Employees at this grade level serve in an entry level position and are trainee in nature.

(2) Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-6 (Developmental Level 1)

(a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level.

(b) Assignment. The Health Technician (Ophthalmology) at this level operates and monitors commonly used equipment performing basic screening procedures. Assists ophthalmology staff by obtaining an accurate medical and ophthalmic history, measuring and recording visual acuity, administering anesthetic eye drops, performing basic tonometry, estimating the anterior chamber depth and recording a simple spectacle reading through automated lensometry.

(c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs :

3. Ability to use basic ophthalmic equipment; and

4. Knowledge of basic disinfection of non-critical reusable medical equipment.

(3) Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-7 (Developmental Level 2)

(a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level.

(b) Assignment. At this level, the Health Technician (Ophthalmology) performs the following : triages patient phone calls or requests; ensures exam rooms are stocked with adequate supplies; instructs patients on administration of eye drops and post-operative instructions; accurately measures, compares, and evaluates pupillary responses; administers eye drops to dilate pupils; performs basic color vision screening; performs visual field testing (using Amsler grid or automated equipment). Performs basic imaging testing such as corneal topography; external photography; performs basic ocular testing such as pachymetry, tear production with test strips, glare testing, stereo acuity, contrast sensitivity, potential acuity meter, measuring spectacles using both automated and manual lensometry and transposing cylinders. The employee assists the ophthalmologist during minor ophthalmic surgical procedures and is adept at applying sterile technique and infection control procedures. Performs autorefractor to determine spectacle prescription.

(c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs :

4. Ability to perform minor extraocular surgical assisting; and

5. Ability to provide eye care patient education.

(4) Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-8 (Full Performance Level)

(a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level.

(b) Assignment. This is considered to be the full performance level for this assignment. The Health Technician (Ophthalmology) at this level performs a range of standard, but complex, diagnostic procedures with responsibility for checking calibration of instruments prior to the procedure. Responsible for obtaining patient physical history, to include chief complaint; reason for visit; pertinent signs / symptoms; past history both ocular and general; family history both ocular and general; social history; and review of medications and allergies, including current ocular prescription and non-prescription 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, and any abnormalities, including relative afferent pupillary defect. Performs basic refractometry utilizing an auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in the phoropter. Instills eye medications (i.e., drops or ointments, including anesthetic, dye, dilation, cycloplegic, or antibiotics. Responsible for measuring intraocular pressure of the eye utilizing 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 the IOL Master. Performs automated visual field testing using various perimetry machines. Performance of external photographs and fundus photography. Performs optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior segment, retina and optic nerve. Performs patient screening and triage emergencies identifying ocular emergencies. Performs patient screening and telephone triage for immediate care. Assists 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. Educates patients and legal authorized representatives in eye care, including preoperative and postoperative instructions. Assists in the education and training of medical students, residents and fellows in those facilities with medical school affiliations. Ensures proper cleaning and disinfection; calibration, maintenance, backup, annual inventory and ordering of instruments, supplies and equipment; obtains quotes as needed; and reports needed repairs to biomedical engineering.

(c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs :

6. Knowledge of optics; and

7. Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment.

Education

Note : Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here : If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit :

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.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave : Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

This position is not a Bargaining Unit position.

This position is covered by a special rate.

Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8 . The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5 to GS-8 .

Physical Requirements : The Health Technician-Ophthalmology should be able to lift and / or carry up to 45 pounds (intermittently). They will also straight pull / push up to 45 pounds (intermittently). They will stoop, squat and kneel (occasionally). The incumbent will have overhead work (intermittently). Position requires prolonged walking and standing (up to 4 hours per day) and sitting (up to 2 hours per day).

English Language Proficiency. Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 38 U.S.C. 7407(d).

Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including certification requirements.

VA HANDBOOK REFERENCE : PART II APPENDIX G52

EFFECTIVE DATE : February 7, 2018

Reference : For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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