Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

US Department of Veterans Affairs; Charleston (SC); In loco; USD 55.000 - 75.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

The Charleston VA Healthcare Network is seeking a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) to assist ophthalmologists with diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care. The role supports education for patients and families and aids in teaching medical students and residents within the Surgical Service, Ophthalmology Section.

Qualifications include US citizenship, English proficiency, and either one year of health care experience or two years of relevant education; COA certification is required.

Competenze

• One year of experience in a health care field or
• Two years above high school with health care focus or an associate's degree
• Equivalent combinations of experience and education qualify

Mansioni

• Support Ophthalmologists in diagnosing, treating, preventing, and monitoring eye conditions.
• Perform complex diagnostic testing and pupil evaluations.
• Assist with clinic-based ophthalmic surgical procedures.
• Educate patients and representatives about eye care and procedures.
• Support training of medical students and residents in Surgical Service, Ophthalmology Section.

Conoscenze

Advanced tonometry

Pupil evaluation

Ophthalmic surgical assisting

Eye anatomy & physiology

Medication instillation in the eye

Optics knowledge

Clinic equipment maintenance

Formazione

Two years above high school in health care

Associate's degree in a health care field

Descrizione del lavoro

The Charleston VA Healthcare Network is recruiting for a Health Technician (Ophthalmology). This position supports Ophthalmologists in diagnosing, treating, preventing, and monitoring eye conditions while providing patient education and follow-up care. The incumbent performs complex diagnostic testing, assists with clinic-based surgical procedures, educates patients and representatives, and supports the training of medical students and residents in Surgical Service, Ophthalmology Section.

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.)

English Language Proficiency. Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) 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 and Education

• (1) Experience. One year of experience in a health care field, such as but not limited to nursing, medical assistant, or health technician.
• OR
• (2) 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
• (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Examples are listed below:
  • (a) Six months of experience in the health care field; and one year above high school; or
  • (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 Forces; or
  • (c) 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).

Grandfathering Provision

All persons employed in VHA as a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including certification requirements. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

• (1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• (2) Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) who were appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
• (3) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or certification that meet all the basic requirements of the qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
• (4) Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

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:

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; and
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-08. The actual grade at which an applicant will be selected for this vacancy is GS-08.

Physical Requirements

See Handbook 5019.