Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

Veterans Health Administration • Fort Dodge, IA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) support ophthalmologists in diagnosing, treating, preventing, and providing follow-up care and patient counseling. In the VA Midwest Health Care Network, the position supports a Whole Health System of care that emphasizes personalized health plans, healing relationships and environments, and connection to Veterans’ communities.

The technician performs patient intake and ocular testing, operates and maintains ophthalmic instruments, assists with clinic-based ophthalmic surgery, and provides eye-care education to patients and authorized representatives. The role also supports telehealth optometry services, including retinal imaging, and may float to other Community Based Outpatient Clinics to support patient care and program expansion. When no contracted optical shop is available onsite, the technician assists patients with frame selection and eyeglass measurements and enters orders as directed by the prescribing eye provider.

This is a permanent, non-virtual position scheduled Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework is not available. The full-performance level is GS-8; selection may be at GS-5 through GS-8. Relocation and recruitment incentives, as well as permanent change of station, are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• At least one year of experience in a health care field, or qualifying education, or a qualifying combination of experience and education.
• Certification as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) through the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO), subject to the stated exception allowing certain non-certified candidates to be appointed below the full-performance level with a time-limited waiver.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For GS-6, one year of experience equivalent to GS-5 and demonstrated knowledge of outpatient clinical policies, ability to obtain and document patient information, ability to use basic ophthalmic equipment, and knowledge of basic disinfection of non-critical reusable medical equipment.
• For GS-7, one year of experience equivalent to GS-6 and demonstrated knowledge of eye anatomy and basic ocular pharmacology, outpatient eye-care policies and procedures, ability to use basic diagnostic equipment for preliminary testing, ability to assist with minor extraocular surgery, and ability to provide patient education.
• For GS-8, one year of experience equivalent to GS-7 and demonstrated ability to perform advanced tonometry and pupil evaluation and intraocular lens calculations, plus knowledge of ophthalmic surgical assisting, eye anatomy and physiology, medication effects and instillation, optics, and equipment cleaning and maintenance.
• Selected candidates must complete required background/security investigation, onboarding, pre-employment requirements, and any applicable drug screening.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• A pre-employment physical examination or evaluation is required.
• Applicants relying on education to qualify must submit transcripts; only education recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited institutions is accepted. Foreign education requires a certificate of foreign equivalency with transcripts.
• A 1- or 2-year trial period is required.

Nice To Haves

• Previous clinical ophthalmology experience.

Responsibilities

• Check and calibrate technical ophthalmology screening instruments.
• Obtain and document detailed patient histories, including symptoms, medical and ocular history, family and social history, medications, and allergies.
• Measure and record distance and near visual acuity, with and without correction or pinhole.
• Measure eyeglass prescriptions using manual or automated lensometers and record the results.
• Evaluate pupils and perform the swinging flashlight test to identify a relative afferent pupillary defect.
• Perform basic refractometry using an autorefractor or habitual prescription with a phoropter or trial frame and lenses.
• Instill ophthalmic medications according to protocol or under direction of an ophthalmologist or optometrist.
• Measure intraocular pressure using standard techniques and equipment.
• Perform corneal pachymetry and manual keratometry or automated topography.
• Perform intraocular lens calculations using an IOL Master or equivalent device.
• Perform automated visual field testing, external photography, fundus photography, and optical coherence tomography of the anterior segment, retina, and optic nerve.
• Screen and triage potentially urgent ocular conditions.
• Assist with clinic-based ophthalmic surgery and procedures, including wound revision, biopsies, cultures, anterior chamber reformation, hyphema evacuation, graft repositioning, intravitreal injections, and laser procedures.
• Educate patients and their 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, inventory, and order instruments, supplies, and equipment; obtain quotes and report repair needs to biomedical engineering.
• Support telehealth optometry services, including Virtual Eye Care Services and onsite and offsite tele-retinal imaging.
• Float to other Community Based Outpatient Clinics as appropriate to provide patient-care coverage and support telehealth program expansion.
• When no contracted optical shop is onsite, help patients select eyeglass frames, measure pupillary distance and segment height, and enter eyewear orders as directed by the prescribing provider.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits and eligibility depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed