Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

Summary Eye Care Center Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System perform functions such as technical clinical care to patients who have received care provided by Ophthalmologists for 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 Citizenship: Citizen of the United States(Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g - this part.) Experience and Education: (1) ExperienceOne year of experience in a health care field - such as but not limited to nursing - medical assistant - or health technicianOR (2) EducationTwo 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 degreeOR (3) Experience/Education CombinationEquivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifyingExamples are listed below: 1 (a) Six months of experience in the health care fieldand one year above high schoolor (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 Forcesor (c) Six months of experience in the health care field and completion of an independent study course in Ophthalmic Medical AssistingCertification: 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)Physical RequirementsSee VA Directive and Handbook 5019English Language ProficiencyMRAs must be proficient in spoken and written EnglishSee 38 U.S.C.7403(f)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: GS-05: None beyond basic requirements GS-06: Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade levelDemonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1Knowledge of general outpatient clinical policies and procedures in a healthcare environment 2Ability to obtain - document and record demographic and medical information from patients in order to develop an accurate medical record 3Ability to use basic ophthalmic equipment 4Knowledge of basic disinfection of non-critical reusable medical equipmentGS-07: Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade levelDemonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA): In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1Knowledge of anatomy and function of the eye and basic ocular pharmacology 2Knowledge of outpatient eye care policies and procedures in a health care environment 3Ability to use basic ophthalmic diagnostic equipment to perform preliminary ocular testing 4Ability to perform minor extraocular surgical assisting 5Ability to provide eye care patient educationGS-08: Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade levelDemonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA): In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1Ability to perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation 2Ability to perform calculations for selection of intraocular lens 3Knowledge of clinic based ophthalmic surgical assisting 4Knowledge of eye anatomy and physiology 5Knowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eye 6Knowledge of optics 7Knowledge 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-08The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-08. Duties The Health Technician - Eye Care Center position at the Entry Level is a trainee in natureThe entry level performs limited routine assignments under daily direct supervisionDeviations from unanticipated problems and unfamiliar situations are referred to the supervisor for a decision or helpMajor Duties include - but not limited to: 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 corneareformation of anterior chamber - evacuation of hyphema - repositioning of corneal endothelial grafts - intravitreous 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 Performs pupil evaluation recording pupil size - shape - symmetry - reaction to light and accommodationPerforms swinging flashlight test to detect a relative afferent pupillary defectPerforms basic refractometry utilizing an auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in the phoropterChecks and performs calibration of technical ophthalmology screening instrumentsObtains patient physical history - to include chief complaintreason for visitpertinent signs and symptomscurrent medication allergiespast ocular and general medical history both ocular and generalfamily history both ocular and generalsocial historyand review of medications and allergies - including current ocular prescription and nonprescription medicationsWork Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm or 8:30am - 5:00pm Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized