Health Technician (OPHTHALMOLOGY)

Department of Veterans Affairs • Dallas, TX

34d • Onsite

About The Position

Ophthalmology Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) support Ophthalmologists in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, follow-up care and patient counseling. Duties include but are not limited to the following: Clinical Responsibilities GS-5 Level Obtains and records vital signs including blood pressure, pulse, and glucose levels Participates in performance of quality assurance activities such as staff meetings, mandatory educational in-services, quality control reports, systems redesign, and team and morale improvement GS-6 Level Obtains an accurate medical and ophthahnic history Measures and records visual acuity Administers anesthetic eye drops Performing basic tonometry GS-7 Level Triages patient phone calls or requests Ensures exam rooms are stocked with adequate supplies Instructs patients on administration of eye drops and post-operative instructions Accurately measures, compares, and evaluates pupillary responses Administers eye drops to dilate pupils GS-8 Level Checks and performs calibration of technical ophthalmology screening instruments Obtains patient physical history, to include chief complaint; reason for visit; pertinent signs and symptoms; current medication allergies; past ocular and general medical 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 tests visual acuity at distance and near, with and without correction or with or without a pinhole Measures eyeglass prescription using manual or automated lensometer, recording sphere, cylinder, axis, and prism in both plus and minus cylinder Performs pachymetry to determine corneal thickness and manual keratometry or automated topography to determine corneal curvature Performs intra-ocular lens calculations using an IOL Master or equivalent device Performs automated visual field testing using various perimetry machines Performs external photographs and fundus photography Performs optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior segment, retina and optic nerve Assists in the education and training of medical students, residents and fellows in those facilities with medical school affiliations Ensures proper cleaning and disinfection; calibration, maintenance, backup, annual inventory and ordering of instruments, supplies and equipment; obtains quotes as needed; and rep01ts needed repairs to biomedical engineering Customer Service Meets the needs of customers while supporting the Medical Center, Service and national VA priorities. Consistently communicates and treats customers (patients, visitors, volunteers, and all Medical Center staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures: Handles conflict and veteran complaints constructively and appropriately. Collaborates with other health care staff in a manner that enhances coordination of comprehensive patient care.

Responsibilities

• Obtains and records vital signs including blood pressure, pulse, and glucose levels
• Participates in performance of quality assurance activities such as staff meetings, mandatory educational in-services, quality control reports, systems redesign, and team and morale improvement
• Obtains an accurate medical and ophthahnic history
• Measures and records visual acuity
• Administers anesthetic eye drops
• Performing basic tonometry
• Triages patient phone calls or requests
• Ensures exam rooms are stocked with adequate supplies
• Instructs patients on administration of eye drops and post-operative instructions
• Accurately measures, compares, and evaluates pupillary responses
• Administers eye drops to dilate pupils
• Checks and performs calibration of technical ophthalmology screening instruments
• Obtains patient physical history, to include chief complaint; reason for visit; pertinent signs and symptoms; current medication allergies; past ocular and general medical 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 tests visual acuity at distance and near, with and without correction or with or without a pinhole
• Measures eyeglass prescription using manual or automated lensometer, recording sphere, cylinder, axis, and prism in both plus and minus cylinder
• Performs pachymetry to determine corneal thickness and manual keratometry or automated topography to determine corneal curvature
• Performs intra-ocular lens calculations using an IOL Master or equivalent device
• Performs automated visual field testing using various perimetry machines
• Performs external photographs and fundus photography
• Performs optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior segment, retina and optic nerve
• Assists in the education and training of medical students, residents and fellows in those facilities with medical school affiliations
• Ensures proper cleaning and disinfection; calibration, maintenance, backup, annual inventory and ordering of instruments, supplies and equipment; obtains quotes as needed; and rep01ts needed repairs to biomedical engineering
• Meets the needs of customers while supporting the Medical Center, Service and national VA priorities
• Consistently communicates and treats customers (patients, visitors, volunteers, and all Medical Center staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner
• Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures
• Handles conflict and veteran complaints constructively and appropriately
• Collaborates with other health care staff in a manner that enhances coordination of comprehensive patient care

Benefits

• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Administration of Human Resource Programs
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees