Lead Health Technician (Ophthalmology)
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Job Location:
San Antonio, TX - USA
Yearly Salary:
$ 62629 - 81423
Posted on:
Yesterday
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Job Summary
Summary
Ophthalmology Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration support Ophthalmologists in diagnosis treatment prevention follow-up care and patient counseling. At the GS-9 Lead Level the Health Technician (Ophthalmology) performs difficult ophthalmic technical duties with considerable latitude for the exercise of independent judgement. The higher-level duties consist of significant scope administrative independence complexity and range of variety.
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.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Qualifications
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:
- Experience: One year of experience in a health care field such as but not limited to nursing medical assistant or health technician. OR
- Education: Two years above high school with a minimum of six semester hours directly related to a health care field or associates degree in a health care related degree. OR
- 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.
- 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 JCAHPOs 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.
- 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
- 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.
Grade Determinations:
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.
Assignment: For all assignments above the full performance level the higher level duties must consist of significant scope administrative independence complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. The Lead Health Technician (Ophthalmology) carries additional responsibilities that involve the oversight of specific services within the ophthalmology clinic. The Lead Health Technician (Ophthalmology) may assist with technician oversight duties including: making work assignments monitoring workflow providing input on performance resolving daily workplace issues and maintaining efficient flow of patient care. They may provide training to eye care staff students and/or trainees; and may provide input into special advancements promotions and disciplinary actions.
Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSA): In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
- Ability to work with a team to provide technical guidance plan organize and coordinate activities of a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) in order to effectively complete job duties of assignment such as distributing workload monitoring the status and progress of work monitoring accuracy of work etc;
- Ability to communicate effectively in order to meet program objectives. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels;
- Ability to assist in Health Technician (Ophthalmology) development outcome management and strategic planning; and
- Ability to act as liaison between Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) to resolve informal employee complaints and concerns.
Education
QUALIFICATIONS CONTINUED
Preferred Experience:
- Experience in training Ophthalmic Health Technicians: Demonstrated experience in training and mentoring other Ophthalmic Health Technicians to ensure the efficient transfer of skills and knowledge;
- Experience in maintaining and calibrating ophthalmic equipment: Strong ability to independently troubleshoot clinical problems and complex instruments ensuring the efficiency and accuracy of ophthalmic procedures;
- COT Certification will consider COA on case by case basis;
- Experience in clinic staff schedule management: Demonstrated ability to coordinate provider and technician assignments ensure adequate coverage for patient care and maintain efficient clinic operations;
- Patient Care and Counseling: Experience in providing comprehensive patient care including follow up care and patient counseling to veterans with various age groups and visual impairments to meet patient specific needs;
- Surgical Assistant Experience: Experience in assisting ophthalmic surgical procedures specifically in the minor operating room including the preparation and cleaning of reusable medical equipment as well as the setup of sterile fields and operation of sophisticated surgical instruments.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
EDUCATION
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: If your school has changed names or is no longer in existence you must provide this information in your application.
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: 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:
Additional information
Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
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.
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.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations Security and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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.
Required Experience:
IC
Key Skills
- Crisis Management
- Motivational Interviewing
- Patient Care
- Behavioral Health
- Intake Experience
- Case Management
- Experience with Children
- Mental Health Counseling
- Psychotherapy
- PTSD Care
- Social Work
- Addiction Counseling
