What are the responsibilities and job description for the Health Tech (Optometry) position at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?
Summary
The Specialty Care Service is seeking a full-time Health Technician (Optometry) for the VA Medical Center in Columbia South Carolina.
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Duties
The Optometry Technician occupation provides clinical services that address a vast array of problems affecting the ocular health and function of a diverse patient population. The work requires the application of knowledge of a variety optometric equipment, skills in preparing patients before an examination by gathering medical history information, explaining the exam process and administering tests to determine the visual capabilities of a patient .The duties may include but are not limited to:
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
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Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Basic Requirements:
Grade Determinations: GS-8
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, AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities as follows:
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8.
Physical Requirements: Work may involve frequent bending, stooping, stretching, etc., as well as repositioning patients. Manual dexterity in handling instruments is required.
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
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 to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Columbia VA Health Care System
6439 Garners Ferry Road
Columbia, SC 29209
US
The Specialty Care Service is seeking a full-time Health Technician (Optometry) for the VA Medical Center in Columbia South Carolina.
Learn more about this agency
Help
Duties
The Optometry Technician occupation provides clinical services that address a vast array of problems affecting the ocular health and function of a diverse patient population. The work requires the application of knowledge of a variety optometric equipment, skills in preparing patients before an examination by gathering medical history information, explaining the exam process and administering tests to determine the visual capabilities of a patient .The duties may include but are not limited to:
- Assessing the physical and mental status of patients independently and obtaining a complete history.- Determining preliminary objective estimate and/or refinement of the optical status of the eye, not to include the patient's final subjective refraction.- Understanding of common diagnoses relevant to optometry and medical terminology sufficient to abstract information from medical records, which is pertinent to eye examination.- Triaging and managing eyeglasses issues (i.e., measurement of vertex distance, based curve, prism correction, center thickness, slab off, Fresnel prism, decentration, etc.).- Performing accurate assessments of accommodation, near point of convergence and ocular alignment (far and near).- Assisting the eye care provider with ophthalmic procedures, as needed.- Providing advanced patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions.- Measuring and recording visual acuity (with use of pinhole testing as indicated).- Obtaining accurate potential acuity meter, laser interferometry, contrast sensitivity or other specialized visual acuity measurements.- Evaluating pupillary light responses and measuring pupil size.- Determining the presence or absence of fusion and performing stereoacuity measurements.- Administering eye drops, changing eye dressing, instilling eye drops such as topical anesthetics, mydriatics, and cycloplegics under the supervision of an eye care provider.- Instilling eye ointments of various types, and administering other medications as directed, and transmitting instructions from optometrist to patient on home care.- Performing basic tonometry (i.e., non-contact, Goldmann, Tono-Pen) and estimating the anterior chamber depth with a penlight or slit lamp biomicroscope.- Reading basic spectacle prescriptions properly using an automated or manual lensometer.- Obtaining and recording accurate autorefractometry and keratometry measurements for patient records.- Performing confrontation and standard automated visual field and Amsler grid testing.- Administering and scoring basic color vision tests (i.e., pseudoisochromatic plates, Farnsworth D-15).- Measuring and recording corneal thickness by pachymetry adeptly.- Performing advanced corneal measurements, exophthalmometry, tear testing and ocular imaging (i.e., stereo fundus, basic slit lamp biomicroscopy, intraocular lens master measurements, ocular ultrasonography, posterior segment optical tomography, fundus autofluorescence and/or ocular angiography).- Providing patient education in regard to care and use of contact lens in order to assist in their visual rehabilitation following fitting.- Ordering appropriate lens by the instruction of the staff optometrists and residents.- Performing minor repairs and adjustments to frames and ordering appropriate lens types and frames.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Help
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.
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.- 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).
- 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: (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.
Grade Determinations: GS-8
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, AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities as follows:
- Ability to assign, coordinate and oversee health technician (optometry) daily duties, tasks and other responsibilities as appropriate.
- Ability to provide and/or monitor staff education and training activities, including interdisciplinary training as necessary.
- Ability to manage and oversee eye clinic RME disinfection activities that include researching manufacturers' cleaning and disinfection recommendations, ordering appropriate RME related supplies, as well as ensuring health technician (optometry) clinic staff RME competency.
- Ability to address and resolve patient complaints and/or concerns and addressing patient health technician (optometry) relationships.
- Ability to develop and train health technicians (optometry) to ensure competency in performance of eye and vision care duties, activities and tasks.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8.
Physical Requirements: Work may involve frequent bending, stooping, stretching, etc., as well as repositioning patients. Manual dexterity in handling instruments is required.
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
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 to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Read more
- Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Columbia VA Health Care System
6439 Garners Ferry Road
Columbia, SC 29209
US
