Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
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: 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) 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-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: Ability to perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation; Ability to perform calculations for selection of intraocular lens; Knowledge of clinic based ophthalmic surgical assisting; Knowledge of eye anatomy and physiology; Knowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eye; Knowledge of optics; and Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment
• Preferred Experience: VA experience References: VHA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G52, Qualifications for Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8
• Physical Requirements: light lifting and carrying (under 15 lbs), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, walking and standing (1 hr), near vision correctable, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (aid may be permitted).

Duties

"At the GS-8 full performance level of this assignment, the incumbent performs complex diagnostic procedures with responsibility for calibrating and cleaning instruments prior to procedure.
Duties will include: Obtaining patient history with chief complaint, reason for visit, pertinent sign/symptoms past 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, and any abnormalities, including relative afferent pupillary defect.
Performs basic refractometry utilizing an auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in the phoropter if requested.
Instills eye medications (i.e., drops or ointments, including anesthetic, dye, dilation, cycloplegic, or antibiotics).
Responsible for measuring intraocular pressure of the eye utilizing techniques, including Goldmann applanation tonometry.
Performs pachymetry to determine corneal thickness and manual keratometry or automated topography to determine corneal curvature.
Performs automated visual field testing using various perimetry machines.
Performance of external photographs and fundus photography.
Performs optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior segment, retina and optic nerve.
Performs patient screening and triage emergencies identifying ocular emergencies.
Performs patient screening and telephone triage for immediate care.
Assists during clinic-based ophthalmic procedures, including biopsies of the eyelid lesions, cultures of conjunctiva, or cornea; angiography, and others as required.
Educates patients and legal authorized representatives in eye care, including preoperative and postoperative instructions.
Assists in the education and training of optometry students and residents.
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.
Performs optical functions including functioning as an optician either with independent licensure or under the supervision of the optometric physicians, including spectacle fitting, ordering, adjustment, repair; able to transpose prescriptions from plus to minus cylinder, triage optical/spectacle complaints, measure for properly fitting frames for monovision, bifocal, trifocal, and progressive addition lenses and coordinates with prosthetics and fabrication laboratory for orders and corrections as needed.
Maintains effective control of the optometry work area by assisting to coordinate and organize the workflow to expedite care delivery.
Assists in creating, implementing, and preparing written and oral reports for the completion of continuous or problem focused Process Improvement and Quality Assurance processes.
Keeps current in new techniques and technological advances as employed by the eye clinic Consults with bio-med and maintenance personnel within the VA to report daily equipment problems, notifies supervisor of issues.
Anticipates needs for supplies and equipment and notifies supervisor.
Assists in training and in-service programs to aid in the instruction of nurses and physicians on procedures, operation and/or maintenance of new and existing medical equipment.
Assists with establishing written procedures and protocol for use with new medical equipment.
Reports complaints and requests from patients, physicians and other personnel concerning activities of the Optometry department such as: appointment schedules, examinations, policies and procedures.
Maintains adequate supplies and pharmaceuticals used in the department.
Responsible to report equipment malfunctions for repair to biomed and or to their immediate supervisor.
Assists scheduler in scheduling patients for exams at the VAMC to provide prompt medical care.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00AM-4:30PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"