Health Technician (Optometry)

Summary
The purpose of this position is to serve as a Health Technician in the Optometry section of the Akaka Clinic. The individual will assist in the care of Veteran patients.
This job is open to

• The public
  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency
US Citizens and Other Federal Employees
This job is also open in another announcement to:

• Internal to an agency

This job is also open in another announcement to:

• Internal to an agency

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Duties
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
The Specialty Care Clinics serve the eligible adult and geriatric Veteran population through a variety of specialized outpatient clinic settings, including the Cardiology, Pulmonary, Dermatology, Allergy, Endocrine and Diabetes Management, Audiology, Optometry Neurology, Nutrition, Interventional Pain, Podiatry and Orthopedic.
Incumbent performs a variety of ophthalmic testing duties, administrative duties, and assists in the delivery of care as an Health Technician in support of the Optometry Clinic. Duties of the position include, but are not limited to:

• Distance and near visual acuities with and without optical correction and pinhole acuity.
• Spectacle correction using an auto-lensometer and/or manual lensometer.
• Interpupillary distance.
• Color vision testing.
• Stereo acuity testing.
• Amsler Grid testing.
• Automated static and kinetic visual field testing.
• Frequency Doubling (FDT) visual field testing.
• Corneal topography.
• Optical Coherence Tomography - anterior and posterior segment, non-central images, fundus auto fluorescence.
• Ophthalmic photography - external, anterior and posterior segment, montage, peripheral views, fundus auto fluorescence.
• Printing of patient schedule and medication list using VistA and preparing patient folders.
• Printing of patient schedule and medication list using VistA and preparing patient folders.
• Keeping track of patient arrivals.
• Putting patient folder in proper exam room door as patient arrives.
• Properly using CPRS to assist with patient inquiries and care.
• Triaging secure messages daily.
• Monitoring and recording temperature in Pyxis unit.
• Monitoring and recording temperature in HLD room.
• Cleaning patients chairs in hallway and dilation room.
• Working collaboratively with MSAs and optical staff Researching and ordering ophthalmic supplies.
• Maintaining a smooth flow of patients through the Optometry Clinic.
• Greeting and triaging patients arriving at clinic.
• Properly taping mask to patient's face.
• Obtaining and recording patient care history including medical and ocular histories.
• Reconciling medication list.
• Screening for and verifying allergies.
• Assisting Optometrists in the examination room.
• Assisting Optometrists with patient education via oral instruction, written education materials, and other available media as deemed necessary.
• Maintaining appropriate inventory and maintenance of supplies, medications, and equipment.
• Restocking non-medication supplies in exam room (e.g., tissues, alcohol swabs, cotton swabs, mydriatic filters).
• Pulling in-office diagnostic medications from Pyxis unit and restocking in exam rooms.
• Cleaning designated items in exam room.
• Cleaning and sterilizing equipment requiring high level disinfection (HLD).
• Preparing reusable medical equipment (RME) and transporting for sterilization at TAMC SPD.
• Learning basic ocular anatomy and physiology, ophthalmic terminology, ophthalmic conditions, spectacle lens types, and ophthalmic equipment.
• Completing a formal optometric technician training program or receiving certification by an approved sponsor.
• Other duties as assigned by management.

Requirements
Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications
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 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. Successful completion of 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. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Examples are listed below:
    
    • 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.
    • 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.
• Licensure/Certification/Registration: None.
• English Language Proficiency: Health Technician (Optometry) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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 (Optometry), GS-04
  
  • Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.
• Health Technician (Optometry), GS-05
  
  • Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
  • Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
    
    1. Knowledge of basic eye anatomy and function.
    2. Ability to obtain, document and record ophthalmic and medical information from patients in order to develop an accurate electronic progress note.
    3. Ability to practice basic hygiene and infection control in a patient care setting.
    4. Ability to follow eye clinic and patient care medical policies and procedures.
    5. Ability to perform minor eyeglasses repairs, such as replacing nose pads and screws.
• Health Technician (Optometry), GS-06
  
  • Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
  • Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
    
    1. Ability to provide patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions, to include assisting with patient contact lens insertion, removal and hygiene (cleaning and disinfection) care.
    2. Ability to accurately enter into a phoropter the autorefractometry or habitual refractive prescription (i.e., eyeglasses prescription) or lensometer findings, including sphere, cylinder and axis.
    3. Ability to perform patient spectacle fitting and dispensing, including selection of appropriate frame, ophthalmic lenses, interpupillary measurements (distance and near) and proper segment height determination, as well as the ability to transpose sphere, cylinder and axis.
    4. Ability to provide basic triage of patient telephone calls or optometry requests.
    5. Knowledge of ophthalmic medications and supplies needed in the process of restocking the eye clinic exam rooms.
• Health Technician (Optometry), GS-07
  
  • Experience. One year of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled.
  • Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs:
    
    1. Ability to determine preliminary objective estimate and/or refinement of the optical status of the eye, not to include the patient's final subjective refraction.
    2. Ability to triage and manage eyeglasses issues (e.g., measurement of vertex distance, base curve, prism correction, center thickness, slab off, Fresnel prism, decentration, etc.).
    3. Ability to perform accurate assessment of accommodation, near point of convergence and ocular alignment (far and near).
    4. Ability to assist the eye care provider (optometrist or ophthalmologist) with ophthalmic procedures.
    5. Ability to assist with obtaining accurate ocular cultures and smears.
    6. Knowledge and ability to provide advanced patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G68
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-4 to GS-7.
Physical Requirements: This position requires a minimum best-corrected visual acuity of 20/30 using both eyes, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent must be able to work with a patient in a dark room with the door closed. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Additional information
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
If you are unable...