Summary

This position is organizationally aligned to the Specialty Service at the VA llliana Health Care System - a Level 3 Complexity VHA Facility. The primary purpose is to serve as health technician for the staff Optometrists within the Specialty Service - performing a variety of health care and clinical support responsibilities that are directly related to the position.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• English: Must be proficient in spoken and written English
• Experience: Must have (1) one year of experience as a health technician or assistant in the health care field demonstrating the applicant's ability to perform the work or by demonstrating a basic understanding of work in the health care field
• OR Education: Must have successfully completed two academic years above high school with a minimum of 12 semester hours related to health technician/assistant or health technician (optometry)/assistant or associate degree - or completion of an independent study course in an optometry related technician or assistant field
• OR Experience/Education Combination: Must have the equivalent combinations of experience and education
• Examples are listed below: (a) Six months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge of optometry assistant theory and practices and general understanding of the health technician/assistant duties and one year above high school with a minimum of six semester hours of health technician/assistant or health technician (optometry)/assistant related courses
• (b) Successful completion of a course for health care technicians or assistants - hospital corpsmen - medical service specialists - or hospital training in a program given by the U.S. Armed Forces - the U.S. Maritime Service - or the U.S. Public Health Service - may be substituted on a month-for-month basis
• In addition to the Basic Requirements listed above - applicants must also meet the following grade specific requirements: GS-8 Specialized Experience: Must have (1) one year of experience comparable to the next lower level (GS-7) which demonstrates the knowledge - skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled
• Experience includes: evaluate pupillary light responses and measure pupil size - determine the presence or absence of fusion and perform stereoacuity measurements
• The health technicians (optometry) perform Amsler grid testing - administer eye drops under the supervision of an eye care provider (optometrist or ophthalmologist) - perform basic tonometry (e.g. - non-contact - Goldmann - Tono-Pen) and estimate the anterior chamber depth with a penlight or slit lamp biomicroscope
• In addition - candidates must be able to demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: (a) Ability to provide patient education and training to manage complex eye and vision conditions
• (b) Knowledge of advanced triage of patients depending upon level of urgency or optometry needs
• (c) Knowledge of complex - non-standard treatment and/or complex examinations and techniques
• (d) Knowledge of ocular pharmacology and systemic medications with ocular side effects
• References: VA Handbook 5005/142 - Part II - Appendix G68
• Health Technician (Optometry) Qualification Standard - dated April 9 - 2021
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. Physical Requirements: The work requires walking - standing - sitting - bending - and helping patients into and out of the examination chairs.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Collaborates and assists members of the health care team in data collection - visual screening (near vision - distance vision - condition of the pupil and intraocular pressure) - and general care for patients ranging in age from 18 to geriatric
• Independently conducts initial interview with patients to gather patient physical history
• Independently orients patient and sets up equipment in preparation of routine tests
• Measures and records the optical power of the spectacle correction using a lensometer
• Measures refractive error and corneal curvature using automated instrumentation
• Performs testing of contrast sensitivity - color vision - stereo acuity - glare sensitivity - and pupil function
• Performs basic ocular motility testing
• Administers cycloplegic and mydriatic drugs for fundus examination
• Assists the physician in performing specialized procedures including applanation tonometry - pachymetry - and keratometry
• Performs advanced color vision testing - corneal topography - lens biometry - optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior and posterior segment - A and B scan ultrasound - anterior segment photography - and fundus photography
• Performs preliminary manifest refractions
• Accurately measures and records both central and peripheral visual fields using both automated and manual visual field testing instrumentation
• Provides patient care as assigned to include documentation of health care activities in the medical record as appropriate
• Assists with the admission of the patients and the maintenance of medical records to include filing - adding demographic information - and filling out laboratory/x-ray/EKG slips
• Provides training for less experienced staff technicians
• Maintains current knowledge and answers questions on procedures - policies - directives - etc
• and obtains needed information or decisions from supervisor on problems that come up
• Ensures proper cleaning and disinfection of all clinic equipment and supplies
• Works with appropriate logistics and biomedical engineering staff to to ensure calibration - maintenance - back-up - and inventory - of instruments - supplies - and equipment
• Obtains quotes and assists with requests for commodities and equipment as needed
• Performs other health technician-related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm - Monday to Friday Compressed Schedule: Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not authorized
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: FS21-0016