Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) – Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System seeks an Ophthalmic Assistant to support ophthalmologists/optometrists, perform diagnostic procedures, and assist during clinic-based surgeries. The role includes patient education and involvement in medical student and resident training.

Qualifications include US citizenship, VA COA certification, and one year of health care experience or equivalent education.

Qualifications

• Must meet basic VA qualifications for Ophthalmic Assistant and COA certification as applicable.
• Experience or education in clinical ophthalmology and patient data collection.
• Knowledge of ophthalmic equipment and infection control practices.

Responsibilities

• Assist ophthalmologists and optometrists during diagnostics and clinic-based procedures.
• Educate patients and legal representatives; participate in patient education initiatives.
• Support medical students and residents in clinical settings.
• Maintain and disinfect ophthalmic equipment and work areas.

Skills

Ophthalmic equipment

Medical records documentation

Patient education

Disinfection procedures

Education

Associate's degree or higher in health care field

High school diploma or equivalent

COA certification

Tools

COA certification

Job description

VA Greater Los Angeles (GLA) Healthcare System is one of the largest healthcare systems within the Department of Veterans Affairs. This position is located at 16111 Plummer Street, North Hills, CA 91343. and provides support to Ophthalmologists/Optometrist and performs a range of standard, but complex, diagnostic procedures, assists during clinic-based surgical procedures, educates patients and legal representatives, assists with the education of medical students and residents. 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) 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: 1 (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).
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• English Language Proficiency. MRAs must be proficient in spoken and written English. See 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 level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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.

GS-07: Experience

One year of experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA)

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.

GS-08: Experience

One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA)

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
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 may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-08.