Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; El Paso (TX); On-site; USD 40,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Parental Leave

Telework Not Available

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks an Ophthalmology Technician to support ophthalmic testing and patient care under supervision. The role involves screening, history taking, tonometry, and lensometry, with close collaboration with ophthalmologists and optometrists.

Candidates should be prepared to engage in diagnostic procedures, maintain equipment, and follow sterile techniques within a VA clinic setting.

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship is required or as otherwise allowed by VA policy.
• One year of experience in a health care field or two years of health care related education/associate degree.
• COA certification or authorized waiver for temporary appointment.

Responsibilities

• Perform ophthalmic screening and basic diagnostic testing.
• Assist ophthalmology staff during patient evaluations and procedures.
• Maintain instrument calibration and infection control practices.

Skills

Ophthalmic testing

Patient history

Intraocular pressure measurement

Sterile technique

Education

Associate's degree or higher in a health care field

Two years above high school with six related health care credits

Tools

Autorefraction equipment

Lensometer

Job description

Summary

Ophthalmology Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration perform functions such as technical clinical care to patients who have received care provided by Ophthalmologists/Optometrists for diagnosis - treatment - prevention - follow-up care and patient counseling. The Technician performs screening procedures such as patient history - pupil responses - visual acuity - and color vision testing. Technicians may analyze lens prescriptions - and fit eyeglasses and/or complex optical devices.

Summary

Ophthalmology Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration perform functions such as technical clinical care to patients who have received care provided by Ophthalmologists/Optometrists for diagnosis - treatment - prevention - follow-up care and patient counseling. The Technician performs screening procedures such as patient history - pupil responses - visual acuity - and color vision testing. Technicians may analyze lens prescriptions - and fit eyeglasses and/or complex optical devices.

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
• 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 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
• c
• 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
• 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
• Assignment
• Employees at this grade level serve in a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) entry level position and are trainee in nature
• The entry level performs limited routine assignments under daily direct supervision
• Deviations from unanticipated problems and unfamiliar situations are referred to the supervisor for a decision or help
• Obtains and records vital signs including blood pressure - pulse - and glucose levels
• Participates in performance of quality assurance activities such as staff meetings - mandatory educational in-services - quality control reports - systems redesign - and team and morale improvement
• Health Technician (Ophthalmology) - GS-6 (Developmental Level 1) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level
• Assignment
• The Health Technician (Ophthalmology) at this level operates and monitors commonly used equipment performing basic screening procedures
• Assists ophthalmology staff by obtaining an accurate medical and ophthalmic history - measuring and recording visual acuity - administering anesthetic eye drops - performing basic tonometry - estimating the anterior chamber depth and recording a simple spectacle reading through automated lensometry
• Deviations from regular procedures - unanticipated problems - complex patients and unfamiliar situations are referred to the supervisor for a decision or assistance
• Some assignments at this level also include developmental duties involving more complex procedures performed under supervision
• 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
• Assignment
• At this level - the Health Technician (Ophthalmology) performs the following: triages patient phone calls or requests
• ensures exam rooms are stocked with adequate supplies
• instructs patients on administration of eye drops and post-operative instructions
• accurately measures - compares - and evaluates pupillary responses
• administers eye drops to dilate pupils
• performs basic color vision screening
• performs visual field testing (using Amsler grid or automated equipment)
• Performs basic imaging testing such as corneal topography
• external photography
• performs basic ocular testing such as pachymetry - tear production with test strips - glare testing - stereo acuity - contrast sensitivity - potential acuity meter - measuring spectacles using both automated and manual lensometry and transposing cylinders
• The employee assists the ophthalmologist during minor ophthalmic surgical procedures and is adept at applying sterile technique and infection control procedures
• Performs autorefractor to determine spectacle prescription
• 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)(a) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level.(b) Assignment
• This is considered to be the full performance level for this assignment
• The Health Technician (Ophthalmology) at this level performs a range of standard - but complex - diagnostic procedures with responsibility for checking calibration of instruments prior to the procedure
• Responsible for obtaining patient physical history - to include chief complaint
• reason for visit
• pertinent signs/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 non-prescription 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
• 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
• ****Qualifications Continued in Education Section****

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Clinical Duties Performs diagnostic ophthalmic/optometric testing with minimal oversight
• Ensures accuracy and reliability of clinical imaging and diagnostic data
• Supports ophthalmologists and optometrists during patient evaluation and clinical procedures
• Provides mentoring - hands-on instruction - and assesses competency and competency reinforcement for technicians - students - and trainees
• Checks and perform calibration of technical ophthalmology screening instruments
• Obtains patient physical history - to include chief complaint
• reason for visit
• pertinent signs and symptoms
• current medication allergies
• past ocular and general medical history both ocular and general
• family history both ocular and general
• social history
• and review of medication and allergies - including current ocular prescription and non-prescription 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
• Performs swinging flashlight test to detect a relatively different pupillary defect
• Performs basic refractometry utilizing an auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in the phoropter
• Instills eye medications (drops or ointments - including anesthetic - dye - dilating drops - cycloplegic drops - or antibiotics)
• Measures intraocular pressure with standard techniques - including Goldmann applanation tonometry
• Performs pachymetry to determine corneal thickness and manual keratometry or automated topography to determine corneal curvature
• Performs intra-ocular lens calculations using an IOL Master or Lens Star or equivalent device
• Assists during clinic-based ophthalmic surgery - including - for example - revision of wounds - biopsies of the eyelid lesions - cultures of conjunctiva - or cornea
• reformation of anterior chamber - evacuation of hyphemia - repositioning of corneal endothelial grafts - intra-vitreous injections - and laser surgical procedures
• Work Assignments Reassesses workload based on patient volume - staffing needs - provider schedules - and urgency of care
• Adjusts assignments during call-outs or high-demand periods to maintain smooth clinic operations
• Responsible for health technician training on clinical reminders and regularly monitors compliance to ensure adherence to established protocols
• Monitors patient throughput - wait times - and room utilization
• Identifies and resolves bottlenecks to ensure efficient patient movement and minimal delays
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday
• 8:00am - 4:45pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized