Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Salisbury (NC); Presencial; USD 50.000 - 75.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Veterans Health Administration is seeking a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) at the GS-8 level to support ophthalmologists in diagnosis, treatment, and patient education. The role involves performing standard to complex diagnostic procedures, assisting during clinic-based ophthalmic surgeries, and educating patients and legal representatives.

The position requires one year of healthcare experience or two years of related education, US citizenship, and COA certification.

Formación

• Candidate must meet health care field prerequisites including basic education and experience requirements.
• Certification as COA (JCAHPO) is required for the role.
• U.S. citizenship is required for appointment to this VA position.

Responsabilidades

• Assists during clinic-based ophthalmic surgery, including revisions of wounds, biopsies, and related procedures.
• Educates patients and legal representatives in eye care, preoperative and postoperative instructions.
• Assists in education and training of medical students, residents, and fellows in affiliated facilities.
• Ensures proper cleaning, disinfection, calibration, maintenance, inventory, and ordering of ophthalmic instruments and equipment.

Educación

Two years above high school with six semester hours health care related or associate degree

One year of experience in a health care field

Descripción del empleo

Ophthalmology Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) support Ophthalmologists in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, follow-up care & patient counseling. Full Performance level performs standard, but complex, diagnostic procedures, assists during clinic-based procedures, educates patients & legal representatives, assists in the education of medical students & residents. Full Performance Level may perform many direct patient care services 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.

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.

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;
• (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;
• (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).

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. (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. (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. (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. (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.

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.

Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-8 (Full Performance Level)

Experience

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

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, 5 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 (KSA).

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. 1. Ability to perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation;
2. 2. Ability to perform calculations for selection of intraocular lens;
3. 3. Knowledge of clinic based ophthalmic surgical assisting;
4. 4. Knowledge of eye anatomy and physiology;
5. 5. Knowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eye;
6. 6. Knowledge of optics; and
7. 7. Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment