Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below

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Major duties and responsibilities will include:

The Health Tech (Ophthalmology) will support patient site care as part of the VA Technology-based Eye Care Services (TECS) TeleEye program. TECS is an asynchronous TeleEye program that includes technicians performing eye testing such as history, measurement of visual acuity, refraction, intra-ocular pressure (IOP) measurement, pupil assessment, dilation, fundus photography, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) testing in a face-to-face clinical VA setting. The clinical information is reviewed and managed by an off-site (or remote) VA Eye Care Provider.

The clinical duties and responsibilities of the Health Technician (Ophthalmology) are expected to perform a range of standard, but complex diagnostic procedures with responsibility for:

• Checks and performs calibration of technical ophthalmology instruments prior to the procedure.
• Obtains patient physical history, to include chief complaint; reason for visit; pertinent signs and symptoms; current medication allergies; past ocular and general medical history; family history both ocular and general; social history; and review of medications and allergies, including current ocular prescription and non-prescription medications.
• Accurately tests visual acuity at distance and near, with and without correction or with and without a pinhole
• Measures eyeglass prescription using manual or automated lensometer, recording sphere, cylinder, axis, and prism in both plus and minus cylinder.
• Performs pupil evaluation recording pupil size, shape, symmetry, reaction to light and accommodation. Performs swinging flashlight test to detect a relative afferent pupillary defect.
• Ensures proper cleaning and disinfection; calibration, maintenance, backup, annual inventory and ordering of instruments, supplies, and equipment; obtains quotes as needed; and reports needed repairs to Biomedical Engineering/Healthcare Technology Management and Office of Connected Care Help Desk.
• Instills eye medications (e.g., anesthetic, dye, dilating drops, artificial tears, ocular hypotensive/pressure lowering agents, cycloplegic, or antibiotics).
• Accurately performs basic refractometry based on an auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in the phoropter.
• Assists with appropriate frame selection and measurement.
• Measures intraocular pressure with standard techniques (e.g., rebound or applanation tonometry).
• Accurately performs pachymetry to determine corneal thickness and manual keratometry or automated topography to determine corneal curvature.
• Accurately performs confrontation visual field assessment.
• Accurately performs automated visual field testing.
• Accurately performs external photographs and fundus photography.
• Accurately performs optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior segment, retina, and optic nerve.
• Accurately provides education subsequent to formal diagnosis by provider or symptoms that necessitate timely education for eye and systemic health.
• Understanding of advanced ocular diagnostics including OCT, fundus and external photography, visual field testing, image middleware/eye PACS systems (e.g., Forum) and how the clinical information is transferred across the network to VistA Imaging and middleware/eye PACS system
• Based on program guidelines, performs medical record review, screening, and triage to the appropriate eye care delivery model including, but not limited to, telehealth appointments, in-person comprehensive eye appointment, subspecialty eye appointment, and community care.
• Accurately performs triage and identifies the correct eye care modality for the patient.
• Support training needs for other staff in TeleEye program.
• Performing others duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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.
• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

a. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.

b. Experience and Education (1) Experience. One year of experience in a health care field, such as but not limited to nursing, medical assistant, or health technician.
OR
(2) Education. Two years above high school with a minimum of six semester hours directly related to a health care field or an associate's degree in a health care-related degree.
OR
(3) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level.

c. 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 JCAHPO's entry-level certification examination for a Health Technician (Ophthalmology).

English Language Proficiency. Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 38 U.S.C. 7407(d).

) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Ability to perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation;
2. Ability to perform calculations for selection of intraocular lens;
3. Knowledge of clinic based ophthalmic surgical assisting;
4. Knowledge of eye anatomy and physiology;
5. Knowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eye;
6. Knowledge of optics; and
7. Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment.

Preferred Experience: One year of Ophthalmology/Optometry experience.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing; clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who" are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete- annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: Candidate's education, scope, and length of nursing practice (experience) will be considered in determining the grade and salary of the applicant selected. The recommended salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.