Supervisory Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

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 (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.

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). 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. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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 : Supervisory Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-9 Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-8 grade level.

• Experience will include performing a range of standard, but complex, diagnostic procedures with responsibility for checking calibration of instruments prior to the procedure;
• obtaining patient physical history, including chief complaint; reason for visit; pertinent signs / symptoms; past history both ocular and general;
• family history both ocular and general; social history; and review of medications and allergies, including current ocular prescription and non-prescription medications;
• accurately testing visual acuity at distance and near, with and without correction or with and without a pinhole; measuring eyeglass prescription using manual or automated lensometer, recording sphere, cylinder, axis, and prism in both plus and minus cylinder;
• performing pupil evaluation recording pupil size, shape, symmetry, reaction to light and accommodation, and any abnormalities, including relative afferent pupillary defect;

performing basic refractometry utilizing an auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in the phoropter; instilling eye medications (i.

• e., drops or ointments, including anesthetic, dye, dilation, cycloplegic, or antibiotics. Responsible for measuring intraocular pressure of the eye utilizing techniques, including Goldmann applanation tonometry;
• performing pachymetry to determine corneal thickness and manual keratometry or automated topography to determine corneal curvature;
• performing intra-ocular lens calculations using the IOL Master; performing automated visual field testing using various perimetry machines;
• performing external photographs and fundus photography; performing optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior segment, retina, and optic nerve;
• performing patient screening and evaluating triage emergencies; identifying ocular emergencies; performing patient screening and telephone triage for immediate care;
• assisting during clinic-based ophthalmic surgery, including revision of wounds, biopsies of the eyelid lesions, cultures of conjunctiva, or cornea;
• reformation of anterior chamber, evacuation of hyphema, repositioning of corneal endothelial grafts, intra-vitreous injections, and laser surgical procedures;
• educating patients and legal authorized representatives in eye care, including preoperative and postoperative instructions;
• assisting in the education and training of medical students, residents, and fellows in those facilities with medical school affiliations;
• ensuring proper cleaning and disinfection; calibration, maintenance, backup, annual inventory, and ordering of instruments, supplies and equipment;

obtaining quotes as needed; and reports needed repairs to biomedical engineering. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA).

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs : Demonstrated leadership and managerial skills, and skills in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution to deal with employees, team leaders, providers, and managers.

Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties, which includes responsibility for assignment of work to be performed;

performance evaluations; selection of qualified staff; and recommendation of awards, advancements, and, when appropriate, disciplinary actions.

Ability to plan, organize, coordinate clinical work flow, set short and / or long term goals for the section, and conduct studies on technical and administrative problems, including personnel shortages, organizational structure, and new technology.

Preferred Experience : Previous experience as a Supervisor in an ophthalmology clinic, preferably VA or DOD. Or, minimum 5 years in an Ophthalmology clinic with significant leadership roles.

Certified as Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) References : VA Handbook 5005 / 98, PART II, APPENDIX G52 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09.

Physical Requirements : The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work.

Work may also require walking / standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and / or conferences away from the work site.

Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.