Health Technician; Ophthalmology

Overview

Summary

This Health Technician (Ophthalmology) position is in the Surgery Service at the VA Boston Healthcare System (Jamaica Plain campus). The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information - refer to Required Documents below.

Basic Requirements:

• a
• Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• b
• 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
• 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)
• Grade Determinations
• In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• (1) Health Technician (Ophthalmology) - GS-5 (Entry Level) (a) Experience or Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• (b) Assignment
• Employees at this grade level serve in an entry level position and are trainee in nature
• (2) Health Technician (Ophthalmology) - GS-6 (Developmental Level
  1) (a) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level
• (b) 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
• (c) 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
• and 4
• Knowledge of basic disinfection of non-critical reusable medical equipment
• (3) Health Technician (Ophthalmology) - GS-7 (Developmental Level
  2) (a) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level
• (b) 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
• (c) 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
• and 5
• Ability to provide eye care patient education
• (4) 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…