Health Technician (OPHTHALMOLOGY)

US Department of Veterans Affairs; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Louisville, KY seeks a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) to support ophthalmologists in diagnosis, treatment and patient education. The role performs standard diagnostic procedures, assists during clinic-based ophthalmic surgery, and participates in training of students and residents under supervision.

Qualified applicants must meet basic requirements including U.S. citizenship, English proficiency, and COA certification.

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship required.
• COA certification required by JCAHPO.
• Experience in healthcare or ophthalmology preferred.
• English language proficiency required.

Responsibilities

• Assist ophthalmologists during clinic-based procedures.
• Calibrate and maintain ophthalmic instruments.
• Test visual acuity and perform refractive measurements.
• Educate patients and legal representatives on eye care.
• Assist in teaching medical students and residents.

Skills

Advanced tonometry

Pupil evaluation

Intraocular lens calculations

Ophthalmic surgical assisting

Eye anatomy knowledge

Ophthalmic medications

Optics knowledge

Equipment cleaning and maintenance

Job description

Ophthalmology Technicians support Ophthalmologists in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, follow-up care and patient counseling. The Full Performance Health Technician (Ophthalmology) 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 student and residents. Incumbent may perform many "direct patient care" under the supervision of Ophthalmologists.

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.


• 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).


• Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs.

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-8 (Full Performance Level):

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

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. Performs pachymetry to determine corneal thickness and manual keratometry or automated topography to determine corneal curvature. Performs intra-ocular lens calculations using the IOL Master. Performs automated visual field testing using various perimetry machines. Performance of external photographs and fundus photography. Performs optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior segment, retina and optic nerve. Performs patient screening and triage emergencies identifying ocular emergencies. Performs patient screening and telephone triage for immediate care. Assists during clinic-based ophthalmic surgery, including revision of wounds, biopsies of the eyelid lesions, cultures of conjunctiva, or cornea; reformation of anterior chamber, evacuation of hyphema, repositioning of corneal endothelial grafts, intra-vitreous 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. Ensures proper cleaning and disinfection; calibration, maintenance, backup, annual inventory and ordering of instruments, supplies and equipment; obtains quotes as needed; and reports needed repairs to biomedical engineering.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

• Ability to perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation;


• Ability to perform calculations for selection of intraocular lens;


• Knowledge of clinic based ophthalmic surgical assisting;


• Knowledge of eye anatomy and physiology;


• Knowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eye;


• Knowledge of optics; and


• 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-8.

Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.