Health Technician; Ophthalmolo

Summary

Ophthalmology Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) support Ophthalmologists in diagnosis - treatment - prevention - follow-up care and patient counseling. The 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 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:

• 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
• 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)
• Loss of Credentials: A Health Technician (Ophthalmology) who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation - which may also result in termination of employment
• 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
• 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)
• 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:
  Health Technician (Ophthalmology) - GS-5 (Entry Level):
  Experience or Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Assignment
• Employees at this grade level serve in a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) entry level position and are trainee in nature
• The entry level performs limited routine assignments under daily direct supervision
• Deviations from unanticipated problems and unfamiliar situations are referred to the supervisor for a decision or help
• Obtains and records vital signs including blood pressure - pulse - and glucose levels
• Participates in performance of quality assurance activities such as staff meetings - mandatory educational in-services - quality control reports - systems redesign - and team and morale improvement
• Health Technician (Ophthalmology) - GS-6 (Developmental Level
  1) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level
• 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
• Deviations from regular procedures - unanticipated problems - complex patients and unfamiliar situations are referred to the supervisor for a decision or assistance
• Some assignments at this level also include developmental duties involving more complex procedures performed under supervision
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  Knowledge of general outpatient clinical policies and procedures in a healthcare environment
• Ability to obtain - document and record demographic and medical information from patients in order to develop an accurate medical record
• Ability to use basic ophthalmic equipment
• and Knowledge of basic disinfection of non-critical reusable medical equipment
• Health Technician…