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Ophthalmology Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) support Ophthalmologists in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, follow-up care and patient counseling. They perform 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. They may perform many "direct patient care services" under the supervision of Ophthalmologists 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 (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: 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. (4) 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). Exception. Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements may be appointed as a graduate Health Technician (Ophthalmology) under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of certification for a period not to exceed two years for a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) that provides care under the supervision of an Ophthalmologist. The exception only applies below the full performance level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level the candidate must be certified. Failure to obtain COA certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment and may result in termination of employment. Failure to Obtain Certification. In all cases, the Health Technician (Ophthalmology) must actively pursue meeting certification requirements starting from the date of appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the uncertified Health Technician (Ophthalmology) with the written requirement to obtain certification, the date by which the certification must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline. Failure to become certified within two years from date of appointment will result in removal from the Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-0640 series and may result in termination of employment. 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. Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including certification requirements. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) who were appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or certification that meet all the basic requirements of the qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. e. 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. f. Physical Requirements. pre-employment and drug screening GRADE QUALIFICATIONS DETERMINATIONS: Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-7 (Developmental Level 2)Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). Knowledge of anatomy and function of the eye and basic ocular pharmacology; Knowledge of outpatient eye care policies and procedures in a health care environment; Ability to use basic ophthalmic diagnostic equipment to perform preliminary ocular testing; Ability to perform minor extraocular surgical assisting; and Ability to provide eye care patient education. GS-8 (Full Performance Level) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level as shown above. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation; Ability to perform calculations for selection of intraocular lens; Knowledge of clinic based ophthalmic surgical assisting; Knowledge of eye anatomy and physiology; Knowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eye; Knowledge of optics; Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment. 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). References: FEBRUARY 7, 2018 VA HANDBOOK 5005/98 PART II APPENDIX G52 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-08. Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals, record boxes, equipment or assisting patients. The work requires above average agility and dexterity. The incumbent may be required to travel between VA and/or Non-VA clinical care sites and possession of a valid driver's license may be required. ["Present illness; Past ocular or otolaryngology history including prior surgeries, laser trauma; Family history (glaucoma, macular degeneration, hearing loss, habitual snoring, sleep apnea); Systemic history (diabetes, autoimmune disease that affects the eye, ears, nose, or throat); Allergies, Ocular or Otolaryngology medications. The incumbent must possess skill/knowledge needed for conducting following exams: distance and near visual acuity, refraction, manual and automatic lensmeter, schemer test, pupil evaluation, anterior chamber depth, tonometry, ocular motility, muscle balance, cover uncover test, position of gaze, steropsis, near point convergence and accommodation, fusion, confrontational visual field, tangent screen, exophthalmometry measurement, color testing, acuity testing by potential acuity meter, amsler grid testing, somnoplasty, laryngoscopy, cautery, esophageal bougies, and irrigation trays. The incumbent will be responsible for starting IVFAs for doctors to administer medication. The incumbent will be responsible for OM Eye Screenings. The incumbent needs the skills and knowledge to provide instruction of patients in the proper method of contact lens insertion, removal and care; assisting the ophthalmologist/optometrist in the fitting and modification of the contact lenses. Coordinate appointments and monitors for completion/reporting of outpatient testing associated with Pre-Surgical evaluation, Vascular lab, Diabetic Eye Screening, and Visual Field studies. The incumbent may be called upon to work in other areas of Surgery Service (i.e. Podiatry, Urology, General Surgery, Vascular, and Operating Room) as a floater in cases where there is a shortage of personnel due to scheduled leave or unscheduled leave. The incumbent performs highly skilled exams utilizing several ophthalmic/optometric/otolaryngology instruments. The incumbent must possess experience and thorough knowledge in utilization of instruments. The incumbent is responsible for maintenance and calibration of all equipment. The incumbent is responsible for orderliness and maintenance of supplies in each examination rooms. The incumbent will help in finding base line data in clinical settings by taking pictures and doing visual fields including, glaucoma, retina and surgical pre-op studies. And, will support administrative staff in the collection of data for Performance Measures and other studies. The incumbent will assist physicians in the performance of office procedures and minor surgeries. This would include such procedures as excision of lid lesions, excision of inclusion cysts, excision of skin lesions, etc... Administer eye drops, ointments and other medications as needed for preparation of patients for examination and/or testing. The incumbent needs skills to assist in patient care of changing dressings. Must maintain all documentation entailing patient visits to the clinic, documentation of diagnostic test results, all physician interactions with patient, and patient reports are recorded in the patient's medical record in the computer. Communicate to the patient their therapeutic regimen as prescribed by the clinic doctors. This may require consultation with family members as well. Must interact with the Pharmacy Service and SPD staff to ensure that adequate supplies are located in the clinic area for residents, attending, and staff. Must interact with the Library Service and Bio-Medical Engineering Service to maintain up-to­ date ophthalmologic/optometry/otolaryngology references and equipment respectively. The individual will maintain the EENT clinics scheduling division by working with the hospital scheduling department and clinic clerks to ensure timely efficient scheduling of eye patients for clinic follow-up and/or specialty clinics. Maintains the status of equipment and availability of instruments in the clinic. Responsible for expediting the repair of equipment problems and using prescribed format for obtaining work orders. Responsible for doing their part to ensure the performance measures related to the EENT clinics are being met. When they are not, the incumbent is responsible for informing the supervisor and making recommendations as to how the performance measures can be met. Will receive and prioritize inpatient and outpatient emergent and walk-in consult requests for EENT consultation with the assistance of the physician staff. Will handle certain telephone calls from established clinic patients. ·Appropriate medical problems will be referred to the physician staff. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Mon, Tue, Thurs, Fri 7:30 am -4:00 pm; Wed 7:00 am - 3:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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