Health Technician (Optometry)

About the role

The Optometry Health Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) support Optometrists and other eye clinic staff in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and follow-up care. The incumbent performs a variety of ancillary testing, triages patient phone calls or requests, stocks examination rooms with supplies and appropriate ophthalmic medications, performs and documents appropriate work-up tests, and assists with patient counseling as indicated. 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. 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. 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-04 Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-05 Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-04). Examples of GS-04 experience are but not limited to: More experienced staff members guide and provide daily direct supervision for the health technicians (optometry). GS-06 Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-05). Examples of GS-06 experience are but not limited to: It is expected they receive guidance from more experienced staff members for patient issues and require daily and direct contact with senior optometry personnel at the work site. GS-07 Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-06). Examples of GS-07 experience are but not limited to: The technicians operate and monitor commonly used equipment performing basic screening procedures. The health technicians (optometry) understand basic hygiene, cleaning and disinfection of reusable medical equipment (RME) instruments and ophthalmic equipment. Additionally, you will be rated on the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Please make sure that each is addressed in your application package. GS-05 Knowledge of basic eye anatomy and function. Ability to obtain, document and record ophthalmic and medical information from patients in order to develop an accurate electronic progress note. Ability to practice basic hygiene and infection control in a patient care setting. Ability to follow eye clinic and patient care medical policies and procedures. Ability to perform minor eyeglasses repairs, such as replacing nose pads and screws. GS-06 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. 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. Ability to perform patient spectacle fitting and dispensing, including selection of appropriate fr

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