Health Technician (Ophthalmology) - MT. VERNON at Mount Vernon

JOB SUMMARY:

 

 

 Vacancy Identification Number (VIN) 859323

 

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise – “To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan” – by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?

“As a VA professional,your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions ofVA, you will have a wide range of opportunities and leadership positions atyour fingertips. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advancedintegrated health care system in the Nation, but we also provide many otherservices to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and NationalCemeteries. VA professionals feel good about their careers and their ability tobalance work and home life. VA offers generous paid time off and a variety ofpredictable and flexible scheduling opportunities. For more information on theDepartment of Veterans Affairs, go to http://www.vacareers.va.gov ”

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
• Background/suitability investigation is required.
• Designated and/or random drug testing is required.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination
• This is a Bargaining Unit Position

DUTIES:Back to top

Amended (corrected PD Number) 3/26/2013

WorkSchedule: Monday – Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm

PositionDescription: Health Technician (Ophthalmology), PD#40586-A

Thisposition is located in Surgery Service of the VA Puget Sound Healthcare Systemin the CombinedEye Care Section at the Mount Vernon Community Based Outpatient Clinic. The incumbentprovides patient care within the eye care clinic. In general, the incumbentconducts specific observations and examination procedures, and performsdiagnostic and therapeutic tasks according to the criteria established by theChief of the Eye Care Program.

As a Health Technician you areresponsible for but not limited to:

- Obtaining a patient’s history to include chiefcomplaint, history of present illness, past history (ocular and general) andfamily history;

- Performing documentation and measurement tasks toinclude measuring and recording the following:

o Visual acuity, near and distance, with and withoutspectacles, spectacle data, including sphere, cylinder and axis by lensometryor automate lensometry; whether single vision, bifocal, or trifocal; whetherglass or plastic lenses; if glass lenses are heated, laminated or identifiablytinted; amount and direction of prism present; eye-wire, lens, and bridge sizesand cable lengths. Interpupillary distance measurement for distance and near.

o Amplitude of accommodation and range ofaccommodation, to include near-point of accommodation both with and withoutspectacles.

o Preliminary ocular motility measurements to bereviewed by the optometrist/ophthalmologist, such as measurement for thepresence or absence of fusion;

o Visual field measurement including central field ofvision using tangent screen and peripheral field of vision using Goldmann typeperimeter or automated perimeter.

o Corneal curvature measurements (keratometry).Exophthalmometry measurement.

o Color vision testing.

o Amsler grid testing.

o Photography to include external ophthalmicphotographs, slit-lamp photography, fundus photography, fluoresceinangiographic photography, and developing/printing and preparation ofphotographic material.

o Acuity testing by potential acuity meter.

o Acuity testing by laser interferometry.

o Quantitative glare testing.

o Quantitative contrast sensitivity.

o Automated refraction.

o Optical Coherence Tomography, anterior andposterior segment.

- Measuring a patient for properly fitting spectacle frames,including the proper positioning of the spectacle lens within the frame;

- Delivering patient health education;

- Providing instruction of patients in the propermethod of contact lens insertion, removal and care; assisting theophthalmologist/optometrist in the fitting and modification of contact lens;

- Assisting in patient care under the directsupervision of the ophthalmologist;

- Assisting (as scrub technician) in surgicalprocedures under the immediate “in suite” supervision of the ophthalmologist;

- Performing post mortem (donor patients) cornealenucleations for transplantation or approved research.

- Coordinate referral consultations;

- Transfer information from the consultation back tothe referring site in an expedient, timely manner.

- Performs other duties as assigned.

NOTES:

1. Recruitment and Relocationexpenses have not been authorized.

2. Internal VA Puget Sound Employees will receive first consideration.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:Back to top

Toqualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closingdate of this announcement.

Time-in-grade:Applicantswho are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.

SpecializedExperience: Applicantsmust have one (1) full year ofspecialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-06) in the normal line ofprogression for the occupation in the organization. Example of specialized experience would be operating all ophthalmic equipment and instruments,measuring a patient forproperly fitting spectacle frames, including the proper positioning of thespectacle lens within the frame; Delivering patient health education; Providinginstruction of patients in the proper method of contact lens insertion, removaland care; assisting the ophthalmologist/optometrist in the fitting andmodification of contact lens; Assisting in patient care under the directsupervision of the ophthalmologist; Assisting (as scrub technician) in surgicalprocedures under the immediate “in suite” supervision of the ophthalmologist;Performing post mortem (donor patients) corneal enucleations fortransplantation or approved research. Coordinate referral consultations;Transfer information from the consultation back to the referring site in anexpedient, timely manner.

Afull year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-timeexperience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriateactivities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience mustindicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in eachposition, salary/grade level, and the number of hours a week spent in suchemployment).

PHYSICALREQUIREMENTS:Demands to assisting the safe transfer of patients travel to otherareas of the clinic or hospital to obtain supplies or information occur; mustsit and stand during the course of examination of patients.

You will be rated on the following Knowledge,Skills, Abilities and Other characteristics (KSAOs) based on your applicationfor this position.

1.Ability to use and maintain ophthalmic equipment.

2.Ability to assist in patient care.

3.Skill in assisting in surgical procedures.

4.Ability to communicate orally and in writing.

5.Ability to use a PC to include Microsoft Office.

PreferredCertification and Experience - The best qualified applicants will possessa combination of certification specific to perform the duties of an OphthalmicTechnician and experience. Examples of certification and experience are:

Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT)certification and 2+ years’ experience.

Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT)certification and 0-2 years’ experience.

Certified Ophthalmic Technologist (COT)certification and 2+ years’ experience.

Certified Ophthalmic Technologist (COT)certification or 0-2 years’ experience working in an optometry or ophthalmologyclinic.

Ifyou are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional jobrelated information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to theknowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contactfor an interview.

IN DESCRIBING YOUREXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONSREGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume/application does not support yourquestionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Qualifications: Applicants must meet the minimumqualifications as stated in OPM Group Coverage Qualification Standards for Technical and MedicalSupport Positions,http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/group-stds/gs-tech.aspandHealth Aid andTechnician Series, 0640, http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/IORs/gs0600/0640.htm.

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HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Your résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

Country: USA, State: Washington, City: Mount Vernon, Company: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration.