Health Technician (Optometry)

Summary Health technicians are optometric assistants that are responsible for assisting in outpatient clinical care. Individuals performing this job must show proficiency in the ancillary and specialty testing that is unique to optometric care. One must have skills in triaging patients, good phone etiquette and assist in administrative duties such as scheduling and checking in patients. Additionally, optometric health technicians must be able to fit, adjust, order and fabricate glasses. Responsibilities Triage A. Triages patients by phone or in person. Schedules patients as appropriate. B. Answers questions about spectacle and contact lens prescriptions. Takes messages for staff doctors. Answers questions regarding clinic operations and services. C. Receives and distributes medical records. Protects patients confidentiality according to HIPAA guidelines. Knows when to interrupt the optometrist during examination to convey timely information. Provides information to personnel regarding available optometric services. Interacts via telephone with optical laboratory personnel regarding optical orders. Directs telephone calls pertaining to other medical information to the appropriate department or physician as needed. Ancillary Testing A. Takes and records patient/family ocular and systemic medical history B. Measures habitual Rx with the manual or automated lensometer C. Measures distance and near visual acuity D. Measures intraocular pressure with the non-contact tonometer E. Measures objective refraction with the automated refractor F. Performs visual field testing as requested G. Performs corneal topography as requested H. Performs optical coherence tomography scans as requested. Takes ocular fundus photos for medical documentation as requested J. Measures stereopsis /depth perception K. Performs color vision testing as indicated L. Documents test results on SF600 in patients medical record and/or in electronic health record M. Instills diagnostic pharmaceutical agents as directed by the optometrist N. Performs other tasks as assigned by the staff optometrist Administrative A. Enters and retrieves data from all necessary electronic records systems: B. Inputs clinical schedule, checks-in patients into and ensures joint registration/eligibility. C. Records each patients screening tests into encounter upon check-in. D. Scans or imports digital copies of supplemental test results E. Documents appointment cancellations and “no shows” on the daily appointment schedule and in the respective medical record. F. Identifies and resolves End-of-Day (EOD) discrepancies with respective provider. G. Ensures medications are disposed of as required by Joint Commission standards and ensures adequate supply remains on-hand for clinic use. H. Acts as liaison to request records and coordinate care for external units/clinics to include but not limited to -USS Tranquility, FHCC Ophthalmology, and Civilian Healthcare Clinics. I. Enters and transmits spectacle orders via the Spectacle Request Transmission System (SRTS) and tracks order until received and delivered to patient. J. Tracks and completes consults from other clinics K. Prepares for following day appointments by: readying appropriate exam forms; posting schedules in exam rooms and retrieving health records. L. Prepares examination rooms daily by uncovering and turning on equipment, ensuring rooms are stocked with required equipment and supplies. M. At the end of the day, turns off and covers equipment. Removes used supplies from the exam rooms. N. Performs other tasks assigned by the supervisor. Fitting/Handling Spectacles and Contact Lenses/Ordering and Fabricating Glasses: A. Adjusts frames and nose-pads on military eyewear for improved function and comfort. B. Sizes patients for military frames, measures interpupillary distance and segment height. C. Assists patients in Frame-of-Choice selection as eligible. D. Enters and transmits spectacle orders via the Spectacle Request Transmission System (SRTS) or FEHR and tracks order until received and delivered to patient. E. Trains patients to insert, remove, clean, and disinfect contact lenses. Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 7:30am – 4:00pm 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 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. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. 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. 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. (1) Experience. One year of experience as a health technician or assistant in the health care field demonstrating the applicants ability to perform the work or by demonstrating a basic understanding of work in the health care field; OR (2) 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 (3) 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. 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. Health Technician (Optometry), GS-06 (1) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade, GS-05. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) 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. (b) 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. (c) Ability to perform patient spectacle fitting and dispensing, including selection of appropriate frame, ophthalmic lenses, interpupillary measurements (distance and near) and proper segment height determination, as well as the ability to transpose sphere, cylinder and axis. (d) Ability to provide basic triage of patient telephone calls or optometry requests. (e) Knowledge of ophthalmic medications and supplies needed in the process of restocking the eye clinic exam rooms. (3) Assignment. Employees at this grade level serve as developmental level 2 health technicians (optometry). 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. Health Technician (Optometry), GS-07 (1)Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade, GS-06. (2)Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Ability to determine preliminary objective estimate and/or refinement of the optical status of the eye, not to include the patients final subjective refraction. (b) Ability to triage and manage eyeglasses issues (e.g. measurement of vertex distance, base curve, prism correction, center thickness, slab off, Fresnel prism, decentration, etc.) (c) Ability to perform accurate assessment of accommodation, near point of convergence and ocular alignment (far and near) (d) Ability to assist the eye care provider (optometrist or ophthalmologist) with ophthalmic procedures. (e) Ability to assist with obtaining accurate ocular cultures and smears. (f) Knowledge and ability to provide advanced patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions. At this level, the technicians assist optometry staff by obtaining an accurate medical/ophthalmic history, as well as coding and entering eye testing performed on the encounter form. Deviations from regular procedures, unanticipated problems and unfamiliar situations are referred to the supervisor for a decision or assistance. Assignments at this level involve procedures performed under supervision from senior optometry personnel. References: VA Handbook 5005/142, Part II, Appendix G68 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-06 to GS-07. Physical Requirements: Work requires walking, standing, lifting, bending, and sitting. Work requires moving and transporting light items (such as supplies, charts, and equipment) on a regular and reoccurring basis. 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 Receiving Service Credit or 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. 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 to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.