Health Technician; Ophthalmology

Summary

The Syracuse VAMC is currently recruiting for 1 Health Technician (Ophthalmology) in the eye clinic. Ophthalmology Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) support Ophthalmologists in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, follow‑up care and patient counseling.

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
    • One year of experience in a health‑care field – such as nursing, medical assistant, or health technician.
    • OR two years above high school with a minimum of six semester hours directly related to a health‑care field or an associate’s degree in a health‑care related field.
    • OR an experience/education combination:
      • Six months of experience in the health‑care field and one year above high school.
      • 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.
      • 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 the Grandfathering Provision (only applicable to current VHA employees who meet the criteria).
  • Grade Determinations:
    Health Technician (Ophthalmology) – GS‑5 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.
• GS‑6 Experience
  • One year of experience equivalent to the GS‑5 grade level.
  • Assignment:
    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.
  • Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
    Knowledge of general outpatient clinical policies and procedures in a healthcare environment; ability to obtain and document demographic and medical information; ability to use basic ophthalmic equipment; and knowledge of basic disinfection of non‑critical reusable medical equipment.
• GS‑7 Experience
  • One year of experience equivalent to the GS‑6 grade level.
  • Assignment:
    Triages patient phone calls or requests, ensures exam rooms are stocked, instructs patients on eye‑drop administration and post‑operative instructions, accurately measures, compares, and evaluates pupillary responses, administers eye drops to dilate pupils, performs basic color vision screening, visual field testing, basic imaging testing such as corneal topography, external photography, and a range of basic ocular testing. Assists the ophthalmologist during minor surgical procedures and applies sterile technique.
  • KSAs:
    Knowledge of anatomy and function of the eye and basic ocular pharmacology; knowledge of outpatient eye care policies; ability to use basic diagnostic equipment; ability to assist minor extraocular surgical procedures; ability to provide eye‑care patient education.
• GS‑8 Experience
  • One year of experience equivalent to the GS‑7 grade level. Full performance level for this assignment.
  • Assignment:
    Performs complex diagnostic…