Lead Health Technician - Ophthalmology

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Kernersville (NC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in the United States seeks a Lead Health Technician (Ophthalmology) to support Ophthalmologists with diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and follow-up care. The role requires COA certification and leadership responsibilities within an ophthalmology service line.

The incumbent will supervise and coordinate technical activities, manage workloads, and ensure program objectives are met. This position emphasizes independent judgment and compliance with VA standards.

Qualifications

• One year of experience in a health care field or two years above high school with related health care coursework
• Certification: All applicants must be certified as a COA with JCAHPO
• Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying

Responsibilities

• Prepare work assignments and conduct performance appraisals
• Perform B-scan ultrasonography to identify intraocular masses or abnormalities
• Perform immersion A-scan biometry
• Assist in minor clinical procedures including laser surgeries and injections
• Ensure compliance with accrediting agencies and quality management programs
• Provide orientation and competency assessment of staff
• Develop policies and procedures and manage document control

Skills

Team leadership

Ophthalmology knowledge

Communication skills

Policy development

Education

Associate's degree in health care

Six months health care course

Tools

COA certification

Job description

Summary

Ophthalmology Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) support Ophthalmologists in diagnosis - treatment - prevention - follow-up care and patient counseling. At the GS-9 Lead Level - the Health Technician (Ophthalmology) performs difficult ophthalmic technical duties with considerable latitude for the exercise of independent judgment.

Summary

Ophthalmology Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) support Ophthalmologists in diagnosis - treatment - prevention - follow-up care and patient counseling. At the GS-9 Lead Level - the Health Technician (Ophthalmology) performs difficult ophthalmic technical duties with considerable latitude for the exercise of independent judgment.

Qualifications

• 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 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: Six months of experience in the health care field
• and one year above high school
• or 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 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)
• Creditable Experience: Knowledge of Current Health Technician (Ophthalmology) Practice
• To be creditable - the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge - skills - and abilities associated with a health care field or knowledge - skills - and abilities related to the current occupation
• Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid or non-paid employment in the health care field
• Quality of Experience
• Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to Health Technician (Ophthalmology) experience at the next lower grade level of the position being filled
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher level duties must consist of significant scope - administrative independence - complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Part-time Experience
• Part time experience as a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) is creditable according to its relationship to the full time work week
• For example - a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) employed 20 hours per week - or on a 1⁄2 time basis - would receive one full-time work week credit for each two weeks of service
• Grade Determinations: Lead Health Technician (Ophthalmology) - GS-9 Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-8 grade level
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA)
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to work with a team to provide technical guidance - plan - organize - and coordinate activities of a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) in order to effectively complete job duties of assignment such as distributing workload - monitoring the status and progress of work - monitoring accuracy of work - etc.
• Ability to communicate effectively in order to meet program objectives
• This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels
• Ability to assist in Health Technician (Ophthalmology) development - outcome management - and strategic planning
• and Ability to act as liaison between Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) to resolve informal employee complaints and concerns
• 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-9. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Duties of the Lead Health Technician (Ophthalmology) include but are not limited to: Preparing work assignments - Conducting performance appraisals - and other clinical and administrative responsibilities to ensure that the mission of the service and the medical center has been satisfied
• Performs B-scan ultrasonography to identify intraocular masses or abnormalities
• performs immersion A-scan biometry
• Performs fluorescein or indocyanine green (ICG) angiography - with diagnostic photography of retinal vessels
• Assists in minor clinical surgical procedures - including laser surgery and intravitreal injections
• Assures compliance with accrediting agency and regulatory requirements - and the quality management program - assuring corrective action is initiated as needed
• Assures orientation and competency assessment of assigned staff
• Helps with developing policies and procedures
• Manages document control
• Assumes responsibility for professional and administrative management of an assigned area
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized