Ophthalmology Health Technician - COA - New Orleans LA (27756)

OPHTHALMOLOGY HEALTH TECHNICIAN/

CERTIFIED OPHTHALMIC ASSISTANT (COA)

ABOUT US:

Laredo Technical Services, Inc. provides staffing services to federal Government agencies all over the world.   LTSI connects the right opportunities to the right people.  With our experience in placing our Team Members throughout the United States and overseas, we excel at providing experienced, professional personnel for a wide range of Professional and Office Administration as well as Medical Services. Our goal is to provide the highest quality professionals in the industry.

LTSI’s culture delivers a strong work ethic while going above and beyond with a sense of urgency. We are an employee-driven company.  We strive for excellence every day, which is what sets us apart from all the other government contractors. Our strong work ethic, sense of urgency and commitment to going above and beyond for our clients is what we value most! 

As a Certified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) that provides a broad range of administrative, project management, and medical staffing support services, we are also honored to be a Member of the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP), and we encourage military spouses to apply for any of our positions for which they feel they are qualified.

JOB TITLE:  Ophthalmology Health Technician/Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA)

GOVERNMENT AGENCY & LOCATION:

Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System (SLVHCS)

2400 Canal Street

New Orleans, LA 70119

JOB SUMMARY:        The candidate shall provide Ophthalmology Health Technician/Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) services onsite in accordance with the specifications contained herein to beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System (SLVHCS).  Contractor shall provide outpatient care, eye examinations, evaluate eye-related symptoms, educate patients, and prescribe corrective lenses for patients during normal business hours 0730 – 1600, Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Experience:

• One year of experience in a health care field, such as but not limited to nursing, medical assistant, or health technician OR
• Two years above high school with a minimum of six semester hours directly related to a health care field or associate degree in a health care related degree OR
• Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.

Citizenship:  Must be a US Citizen or hold a valid Permanent Resident card.

Certification(s)/Licensure: 

• 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).
• Must also have current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Must speak and write English proficiently.
• Ability to perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation.
• Ability to perform calculations for selection of intraocular lens.
• Knowledge of clinic based ophthalmic surgical assisting including preparation of the surgical field.
• Knowledge of eye anatomy and physiology.
• Knowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eye.
• Knowledge of optics.
• Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment.

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The Health Technician (Ophthalmology) shall be able to perform a range of standard, but complex, diagnostic procedures.
• Checks and performs calibration of technical ophthalmology screening instruments
• 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 nonprescription 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. Performs swinging flashlight test to detect a relative afferent pupillary defect.
• Performs basic refractometry utilizing an auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in the phoropter.
• Instills eye medications (drops or ointments, including anesthetic, dye, dilating drops, cycloplegic drops, or antibiotics).
• Measures intraocular pressure with standard 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 an IOL Master or equivalent device.
• Performs automated visual field testing using various perimetry machines.
• Performs external photographs and fundus photography.
• Performs optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior segment, retina, and optic nerve.
• Performs patient screening and triage of potentially urgent ocular conditions.
• 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 hyphemia, 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.
• 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.

POSITION TIMING:  Immediate hire upon completion of all background and security investigations.

BENEFITS:  Health, Dental, and Vision, 401(k), Vacation, Sick Leave, and 11 Paid Federal Holidays including:

New Year’s Day

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Presidents Birthday

Memorial Day

Juneteenth

Independence Day

Labor Day

Columbus Day

Veterans Day

Thanksgiving Day

Christmas Day

Laredo Technical Services, Inc. (LTSi) is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.  We make employment decisions based on merit and qualifications, ensuring equal opportunity for all applicants and employees.  We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, Veteran Status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

LTSi is committed to ensuring an accessible online application process for all individuals, including those with disabilities.  We offer alternative application methods for candidates who are unable to complete the online application due to a disability or other need for accommodation. LTSi complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam-Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, and other relevant state and local laws.  If you need assistance with an application due to a disability, please contact hr@laredotechnical.com.