Health Technician (Optician)

Veterans Health Administration • Tulsa, OK

2d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is within VA Eye Care Optical Services at the Ernest Childers Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and may require coverage at the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center Eye Clinic when needed. The Health Technician (Optician) provides optical services and opticianry expertise, with the primary purpose of providing eyeglasses to Veterans.

The role provides direct patient care related to eyewear selection, ordering, verification, troubleshooting, adjustment, and repair. It includes taking and documenting optical measurements, educating patients on eyewear use and care, addressing concerns, tracking orders, notifying Veterans when eyeglasses are ready, and maintaining clean optical areas and equipment in accordance with infection-control guidelines.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-05, including relevant technician experience applying the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the occupation.
• Experience measuring, fitting, and adjusting eyeglasses based on optical prescriptions.
• Experience with optical measurements such as pupillary distance, vertex distance, and segment heights, and accurate interpretation of optical prescriptions.
• Ability to adjust and repair eyeglasses, including metal and plastic frames.
• Customer service skills, including resolving patient concerns and educating patients about eyewear.
• Ability to speak English.
• For current Federal employees who held a GS grade during the prior 52 weeks: 52 weeks at GS-05 is required for the GS-06 position.
• Meet applicable application, online assessment, background/security, onboarding, and other pre-employment requirements; selected applicants are subject to drug screening.
• Selected applicants must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and serve a one-year probationary period.
• Ability to stand and walk freely to assist Veterans daily and lift 10–15 pounds as needed on an infrequent basis.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working as an optician, including measuring, fitting, and adjusting eyeglasses.
• Strong customer service skills and knowledge of optical equipment and prescriptions.
• Experience working with Veterans or in a healthcare setting.
• Experience in a healthcare or clinical setting and/or with Veteran populations.
• Ability to use electronic health record systems and maintain accurate patient and inventory records.
• Skill in preparing detailed work orders for optical laboratories and collaborating with laboratory technicians.
• Ability to multitask and manage time efficiently in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge of optical products, lens technologies, and frame styles, and ability to stay current with them.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care related to eyewear education, selection, ordering, verification, troubleshooting, adjustment, and repair.
• Accurately obtain and document interpupillary distances, optical centers, and multifocal or progressive lens segment heights.
• Adjust eyeglasses for comfortable fit and proper optical alignment, and instruct patients on wearing and caring for their eyeglasses.
• Repair broken or defective eyeglasses.
• Serve as a front-line contact for eyewear concerns; triage concerns using manual or automated lensometry verification and troubleshoot optical issues.
• Verify that eyeglass fabrication is completed as prescribed.
• Communicate courteously and respectfully with Veterans, their representatives, visitors, and VA staff, and handle concerns constructively.
• Document patient care activities accurately and promptly in the patient's electronic record.
• Track eyeglass orders weekly, verify receipt of consults, and obtain tracking information as needed.
• Notify Veterans when eyeglasses are ready for pickup.
• Follow infection-control guidelines, clean and disinfect equipment and sample frames, practice hand hygiene between patient encounters, and maintain the optical space, frame displays, and fitting area.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility.
• VA may, upon request and approval before appointment, credit qualifying job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service toward the rate of annual leave accrual.

What This Job Offers

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