Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

Veterans Health Administration • Salisbury, NC

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Health Technician (Ophthalmology) supports ophthalmologists in diagnosing, treating, and preventing eye conditions, providing follow-up care and patient counseling. At the full-performance level, the technician performs standard but complex diagnostic procedures, checks instrument calibration before procedures, assists with clinic-based ophthalmic procedures, educates patients and their legal representatives, and may perform direct patient care under ophthalmologist supervision. The position may require work at any of three locations as needed: Salisbury Medical Center, Kernersville HCC, and Charlotte HCC.

The technician obtains patient histories and medication and allergy information; conducts ophthalmic examinations and diagnostic testing; administers eye medications; screens and triages patients, including identifying ocular emergencies; and assists with clinic-based ophthalmic surgery. The role also includes patient education, assisting with the training of medical students, residents, and fellows, and maintaining ophthalmic instruments, supplies, and equipment.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• One year of experience in a health care field, such as nursing, medical assisting, or health technician work; or two years of education above high school with at least six semester hours directly related to a health care field, or an associate degree in a health care-related field; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Certification as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) through the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO).
• For the GS-8 full-performance level, one year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level.
• Demonstrated ability to perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation.
• Demonstrated ability to perform calculations for intraocular lens selection.
• Knowledge of clinic-based ophthalmic surgical assisting.
• Knowledge of eye anatomy and physiology.
• Knowledge of medication effects and proper instillation in the eye.
• Knowledge of optics.
• Knowledge of proper cleaning and maintenance of clinic equipment.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Successful completion of required application steps and an online assessment; selected applicants are subject to a pre-appointment drug test, background/security investigation, onboarding, and a trial period.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Selective Service registration for males born after December 31, 1959.

Responsibilities

• Obtain patients’ physical and ocular histories, chief complaint, reason for visit, symptoms, family and social history, medications, and allergies.
• Test visual acuity at distance and near, with or without correction and pinhole.
• Measure eyeglass prescriptions using manual or automated lensometers and record sphere, cylinder, axis, and prism.
• Evaluate pupils, recording size, shape, symmetry, reaction to light and accommodation, and abnormalities such as relative afferent pupillary defect.
• Perform basic refractometry using an autorefractor or habitual glass prescription in a phoropter.
• Instill eye medications, including anesthetic, dye, dilation, cycloplegic, and antibiotic drops or ointments.
• Measure intraocular pressure, including using Goldmann applanation tonometry.
• Perform pachymetry, keratometry or corneal topography, and intraocular lens calculations using the IOL Master.
• Perform automated visual field testing, external photography, fundus photography, and optical coherence tomography of the anterior segment, retina, and optic nerve.
• Screen and triage patients, identify ocular emergencies, and perform telephone triage for immediate care.
• Assist with clinic-based ophthalmic surgery and procedures, including wound revision, eyelid lesion biopsies, conjunctival or corneal cultures, graft procedures, intravitreal injections, and laser procedures.
• Educate patients and legally authorized representatives about eye care and preoperative and postoperative instructions.
• Assist with education and training of medical students, residents, and fellows at affiliated facilities.
• Clean, disinfect, calibrate, maintain, and arrange backup and annual inventory of instruments and equipment; order supplies, obtain quotes as needed, and report repairs to biomedical engineering.
• Check instrument calibration before performing diagnostic procedures.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree