Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

The Health Technician (Ophthalmology) is posted within the Eye Clinic at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit, Michigan. The position is organizationally aligned under the Surgical Service, supervised by Section Chief, Optometry. Ophthalmology Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) support Ophthalmologist and/or Optometrist in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, follow-up care and patient counseling.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:
United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 38 U.S.C. 7407(d)
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
• 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
• 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).

• 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.
• Failure to Obtain Certification. In all cases, the Health Technician (Ophthalmology) must actively pursue meeting certification requirements starting from the date of appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the uncertified Health Technician (Ophthalmology) with the written requirement to obtain certification, the date by which the certification must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline. Failure to become certified within two years from date of appointment will result in removal from the Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-0640 series and may result in termination of employment.
• Loss of Credentials. A Health Technician (Ophthalmology) who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment.

Grandfathering Provision. 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:

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
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
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
7. Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

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 work is primarily sedentary but also requires some standing, walking, bending, lifting and carrying of light items. The work requires above average ability and dexterity. The work may require heavy lifting and carrying (45 lbs); reaching above shoulder, use of fingers; both hands required; walking (5 hours); standing 92 hours); use of legs and arms; near vision correctable at 13' to 16' Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; specific visual requirement; both eyes required; depth perception; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted). The incumbent in this position has the ability to ascertain details at close range (within a few feet of the observer), as well as the ability to listen to and understand the needs of others in a clinical environment. In this position he/she has ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small instrumentation. Associated with this is the ability to identify and manage essential patient information.Education:IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. A copy of your certificate/degree or screenshot of your current classes are not a replacement of your transcripts. Transcripts must include:

• Your Name
• Name of college or University
• Full address of the college or university
• Degree Received
• Date conferred

To meet qualification requirements, your resume should clearly identify the following information for each applicable degree:

• Name and location of the college or university
• Degree earned and the field of study
• Date the degree was conferred (month and year)

Please ensure this information is included directly on your resume so your education can be properly evacuated during the qualification review.

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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.Employment Type: OTHER

Salary : $44,932