Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

Description:

Ophthalmology Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) support Ophthalmologists in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, follow-up care and patient counseling.

Requirements:

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.
• Experience and Education:
  • (1) 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 a 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.
• Certification: Candidates 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). Exception. Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements may be appointed as a graduate Health Technician (Ophthalmology) under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 (c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of certification for a period not to exceed two years for a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) that provides care under the supervision of an Ophthalmologist. The exception only applies below the full performance level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level the candidate must be certified. Failure to obtain COA certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment and may result in termination of employment.
• Foreign Graduates: Tobe 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.
• English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

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 : In-addition to meeting the basic requirements previously stated, applicants must also meet the grade requirements.

• GS-05 Health Technician (Ophthalmology) (Entry Level) . Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-06 (Developmental Level 1) Health Technician (Ophthalmology) Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's):
  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;
  4. Knowledge of basic disinfection of non-critical reusable medical equipment.
• GS-07 (Developmental Level 2) Health Technician (Ophthalmology) Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-06). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSA's:
  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 equipment to perform preliminary ocular testing.
  4. Ability to perform minor extraocular surgical assisting.
  5. Ability to provide eye care patient education.
• GS-08 (Full Performance Level) Health Technician (Ophthalmology) Experience: Must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07), In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSA's:
  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.

References: VA Handbook 5005/98 Part II Appendix G52, dated February 7, 2018.

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-05 to GS-08.

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

Preferred Experience: Experience performing a variety of ophthalmic diagnostic tests/procedures on patients' vision.