Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

Summary This position is within the Ophthalmology department at the San Francisco Veteran's Affairs Medical Center or a community-based outpatient clinic (CBOC). The Ophthalmology Health Technician plays a crucial role within the eye care team, overseeing and coordinating patient flow. Key responsibilities include training team members, effectively communicating with Optometrist / Ophthalmologist, ensuring compliance with best practices and protocols, and promoting a collaborative work atmosphere. Responsibilities - Conduct comprehensive initial interviews with patients to gather detailed medical and ocular histories, including current symptoms, previous treatments, family ocular history and medication currently prescribed. Identify possible unconventional problems areas that maybe affecting the patient's overall well-being. The information gathered is used for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating patient condition and care for patients ranging from 18 to geriatric. - Measure and record both corrected and uncorrected visual acuities, as well as the specifications of the patient's spectacles using a lensometer. Assess whether vision can be enhanced through minor adjustments to the lenses or the use of a pinhole device. - Evaluate and document the optical power of spectacles, including detailed assessments of contact lens parameters such as base curve, overall diameter, power, and tint specifications. - Measure and record the range of accommodation power; conduct refractometry using an automated objective refractometer; and perform tests for contrast sensitivity, color vision, ETDRS acuity, stereo acuity, glare sensitivity, and pupillometry. Conduct glare testing to evaluate visual acuity in cataract patients. Perform basic ocular motility assessments and administers cycloplegic and mydriatic agents for fundus examinations. - Assist physicians in conducting specialized procedures, including Visual Field Tests (VFT), corneal topography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), slit lamp photography, fundus photography, biometry, ultrasound A / B scans, ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM), fluorescein angiography, and both automated and manual keratometry readings, as well as intraocular pressure checks through tonometry. - Prepare and stock examining rooms to meet the providers' needs for patient care. Ensure that all materials, products, ocular drops, and ointments are current and not expired. Restock post-operative documents required for patient education. Select and prepare the appropriate equipment for specific minor procedures to be performed in the clinic. Organize instruments, supplies, and equipment systematically, and verify that all equipment is functioning properly. - Maintain a sterile environment throughout the procedure - Facilitate patient movement within the clinic to minimize delays and reduce duplication of efforts, thereby decreasing patient wait times. - Distribute and balance workload among staff technicians based on established workflows and job specializations. - Maintain awareness of the status and progress of tasks, making daily adjustments as needed according to priority, and seek assistance from supervisors for any issues that may arise, such as backlogs that cannot be resolved promptly. - Retrieve relevant clinical documents and images for the following day's clinic. - Provide training to less experienced staff technicians and stays updated on procedures, policies, and directives to answer any questions that arise. - By staying current with advancements in ophthalmic technology and practices, the senior technician enhances the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the department, ultimately improving patient care and outcome. - Seek necessary information or decisions from lead / supervisor when problems occur. - Additionally, complete other duties related to health technician responsibilities as assigned. Work Schedule : Monday-Friday 8 : 00am-4 : 30pm (or as determined by supervisor depending on needs of the service) Telework : Not Available Virtual : This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement # : 08385-F Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12 / 31 / 1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background / security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider : your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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 a. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. b. Experience and Education 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 : (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. Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-5 (Entry Level) Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements. Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-6 (Developmental Level 1) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs : 1. Knowledge of general outpatient clinical policies and procedures in a healthcare environment; 2. Ability to obtain, document and record demographic and medical information from patients in order to develop an accurate medical record; 3. Ability to use basic ophthalmic equipment; and 4. Knowledge of basic disinfection of non-critical reusable medical equipment. Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-7 (Developmental Level 2) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs : 1. Knowledge of anatomy and function of the eye and basic ocular pharmacology; 2. Knowledge of outpatient eye care policies and procedures in a health care environment; 3. Ability to use basic ophthalmic diagnostic equipment to perform preliminary ocular testing; 4. Ability to perform minor extraocular surgical assisting; and 5. Ability to provide eye care patient education. Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-8 (Full Performance Level) 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 : 1. Ability to perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation; 2. Ability to perform calculations for selection of intraocular lens; 3. Knowledge of clinic based ophthalmic surgical assisting; 4. Knowledge of eye anatomy and physiology; 5. Knowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eye; 6. Knowledge of optics; and 7. Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment. 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). 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 : 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. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration / Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA / OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.