Health Technician (Optometry)

About the role

This Health Technician (Optometry) position is in the Surgical Care services at the Togus VA Medical Center providing care at the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) located at the Bangor - Maine or Lewiston - Maine locations. This position is intermittent at part-time hours per week.

Responsibilities

• Measuring and recording visual acuity (with use of pinhole testing as indicated)
• Obtaining accurate potential acuity meter - laser interferometry - contrast sensitivity or other specialized visual acuity measurements
• Evaluate pupillary light responses and measure pupil size - determine the presence or absence of fusion and perform stereoacuity measurements
• Perform Amsler grid testing
• Administer eye drops under the supervision of an eye care provider (optometrist or ophthalmologist)
• Perform basic tonometry (e.g. - non-contact - Goldmann - Tono-Pen) and estimate the anterior chamber depth with a penlight or slit lamp biomicroscope
• Skilled in properly reading a basic spectacle prescription using an automated or manual lensometer
• Obtain accurate autorefractometry and keratometry measurements
• Perform confrontation and standard automated visual field testing
• Adept at measuring and recording corneal thickness by pachymetry as well as performance of advanced corneal measurements - exophthalmometry - tear testing and ocular imaging (e.g. - stereo fundus - basic slit lamp biomicroscopy - intraocular lens master measurements - ocular ultrasonography - posterior segment optical coherence tomography - fundus autofluorescence and/or ocular angiography)
• Responds to patients, families, and coworkers' requests for assistance promptly and in a friendly and cooperative manner
• Provides written and oral communication that is thorough and correct - using clear precise communication methods to ensure that customers understand
• Applies therapeutic communication techniques when interacting with demanding or distressed patients
• Demonstrates professionalism at all times - modeling the tenants of I-CA

Requirements

• Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship - English Language Proficiency - Experience - Education - Experience/Education Combination

Qualifications

• Experience: One year of experience as a health technician or assistant in the health care field demonstrating the applicant's ability to perform the work or by demonstrating a basic understanding of work in the health care field
• Education: Successful completion of two academic years above high school with a minimum of 12 semester hours related to health technician/assistant or health technician (optometry)/assistant or associate degree - or completion of an independent study course in an optometry related technician or assistant field
• Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying

Skills

• Knowledge of basic eye anatomy and function
• Ability to obtain, document and record ophthalmic and medical information from patients in order to develop an accurate electronic progress note
• Ability to practice basic hygiene and infection control in a patient care setting
• Ability to follow eye clinic and patient care medical policies and procedures
• Ability to perform minor eyeglasses repairs, such as replacing nose pads and screws
• Ability to provide patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions - to include assisting with patient contact lens insertion, removal and hygiene (cleaning and disinfection) care
• Ability to accurately enter into a phoropter the autorefractometry or habitual refractive prescription (i.e. - eyeglasses prescription) or lensometer findings - including sphere, cylinder and axis
• Ability to perform patient spectacle fitting and dispensing - including selection of appropriate frame, ophthalmic lenses, interpupillary measurements (distance and near) and proper segment height determination - as well as the ability to transpose sphere, cylinder and axis
• Ability to provide basic triage of patient telephone calls or optometry requests
• Knowledge of ophthalmic medications and supplies needed in the process of restocking the eye clinic exam rooms
• Ability to determine preliminary objective estimate and/or refinement of the optical status of the eye - not to include the patient's final subjective refraction
• Ability to triage and manage eyeglasses issues (e.g. - measurement of vertex distance, base curve, prism correction, center thickness, slab off, Fresnel prism, decentration, etc.)
• Ability to perform accurate assessment of accommodation, near point of convergence and ocular alignment (far and near)
• Ability to assist the eye care provider (optometrist or ophthalmologist) with ophthalmic procedures
• Ability to assist with obtaining accurate ocular cultures and smears
• Knowledge and ability to provide advanced patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions
• Ability to provide patient education and training to manage complex eye and vision conditions
• Knowledge of advanced triage of patients depending upon level of urgency or optometry needs
• Knowledge of complex, non-standard treatment and/or complex examinations and techniques
• Knowledge of ocular pharmacology and systemic medications with ocular side effects

Benefits

• Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Available
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)

Pay

• The full performance level of this vacancy is 8
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 4 to 8

Schedule

Intermittent - Days

TBD - Schedule 7:30 am - 4:00 pm

Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized

Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

Functional Statement

FS03147 at GS-04 - FS03148 at GS-05 - FS03149 at GS-06 - FS03021 at GS-07 - F05987 at GS-8

Notifications

• Due to critical staffing shortage - U.S.C. 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veteran's preference for this job announcement

Position Information

• This position is in the Excepted Service
• This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay

Other Information

• Current and former Federal employees may be required to submit copies of their most recent SF-50 - (Notice of Personnel Action)
• The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)
• In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held
• Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment
• This position is AFGE Bargaining Unit Position