Summary

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

Qualifications

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: 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: 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)
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: For the Health Technician (Ophthalmology) - GS-8 (Full Performance Level): Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level
• Assignment: This is 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
• 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
• Performs pupil evaluation recording pupil size - shape - symmetry - reaction to light and accommodation - and any abnormalities - including relative afferent pupillary defect
• Instills eye medications (i.e. - drops or ointments - including anesthetic - dye - dilation - cycloplegic - or antibiotics
• Performs patient screening and triage emergencies identifying ocular emergencies
• 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all 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
• Preferred Experience: Must have current Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) through JCAHPO The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-08
• Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion
• It may involve frequent bending - reaching and stretching to set up and take apart equipment - assisting and positioning patients
• Duties require above average dexterity.

Duties

• FUNCTIONS: Clinical Responsibilities The GS-8 level (Full Performance Level) is the full performance level for this assignment
• The Health Technician (Ophthalmology) at this level performs a range of standard - but complex - diagnostic procedures
• In addition to the duties expected of the GS-7 level - the following clinical duties and responsibilities are expected at the GS-8 assignment: i
• Checks and performs calibration of technical ophthalmology screening instruments
• ii
• 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 non-prescription medications
• iii
• Accurately tests visual acuity at a distance and near - with and without correction or with and without a pinhole
• iv
• Measures eyeglass prescription using manual or automated lensometer - recording sphere - cylinder - axis - and prism in both plus and minus cylinder
• v
• Performs pupil evaluation recording pupil size - shape - symmetry - reaction to light and accommodation
• Performs swinging flashlight test to detect a relative afferent pupillary defect
• vi
• Performs basic refractometry utilizing an auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in the phoropter
• vii
• Instills eye medications (drops or ointments - including anesthetic - dye - dilating drops - cycloplegic drops - or antibiotics)
• viii
• Measures intraocular pressure with standard techniques - including Goldmann applanation tonometry
• ix
• Performs pachymetry to determine corneal thickness and manual keratometry or automated topography to determine corneal curvature
• x
• Performs intra-ocular lens calculations using an IOL Master or equivalent device
• xi
• Performs automated visual field testing using various perimetry machines
• xii
• Performs external photographs and fundus photography
• xiii
• Performs optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior segment - retina and optic nerve
• xiv
• Performs patient screening and triage of potentially urgent ocular conditions
• xv
• 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
• xvi
• Educates patients and legal authorized representatives in eye care - including preoperative and postoperative instructions
• xvii
• Assists in the education and training of medical students - residents and fellows in those facilities with medical school affiliations
• xviii
• 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
• Work Schedule: TBD Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 58627F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized