Health Technician (Optometry)

Veterans Health Administration•Tulsa, OK

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care Center is hiring one Health Technician (Optometry) for the Ernest Childers VA Outpatient Clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The position supports optometry and ophthalmology care by collecting patient information, conducting vision and eye screenings, assisting with eyeglass fitting and repair, performing imaging procedures, coordinating clinic activities, and providing patient education as directed by the provider. The full performance level is GS-7; selections may be made at GS-4 through GS-7. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Compressed or flexible scheduling is unavailable, and the position is not eligible for telework or virtual work. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change-of-station authorization are not available. Applicants must meet applicable citizenship, English proficiency, experience or education, and grade-specific qualification requirements. The position includes physical demands such as heavy lifting and working in varied environments. Selected applicants must complete required screening, onboarding, and a one- or two-year trial period.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exceptions for non-citizens.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
Meet the basic qualification requirement through one year of qualifying health technician or assistant experience; qualifying education; an equivalent combination of experience and education; or an applicable grandfathering provision.
For GS-5, one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade and knowledge of basic eye anatomy and function; ability to obtain, document, and record patient information; basic hygiene and infection-control practices; ability to follow clinic and patient-care procedures; and ability to perform minor eyeglass repairs.
For GS-6, one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade and ability to provide patient education and assist with contact lens care; enter refractive information into a phoropter; fit and dispense spectacles; triage basic patient calls or optometry requests; and knowledge of ophthalmic medications and supplies.
For GS-7, one year of comparable experience and ability to estimate or refine optical status, triage and manage eyeglass issues, assess accommodation and ocular alignment, assist with ophthalmic procedures and ocular cultures or smears, and provide advanced eye-health or vision-condition education.
Physical ability to meet the stated requirements, including heavy lifting over 45 pounds, pushing, reaching above shoulder level, walking, kneeling, and repeated bending; ability to distinguish basic colors and maintain rapid mental and muscular coordination.
Pass required pre-employment drug screening, background/security investigation, and onboarding requirements; participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program; and serve the required one- or two-year trial period.
Complete the required application steps, including the online assessment and application documentation.

Nice To Haves

Experience administering ACT/HVF within the last two years.

Responsibilities

Assist in obtaining patient history, including the chief complaint, history of present condition, and relevant medical, ocular, and family history.
Verify spectacle prescription data with a lensmeter and measure visual acuity, corneal curvature, and color vision as directed.
Use an autorefractor to determine spectacle prescriptions and perform other directed screening duties.
Instill drops as directed and perform intraocular pressure screenings.
Independently perform visual field evaluations using automated and manual visual field analyzers.
Assist patients in selecting and fitting eyeglass frames and lenses, take measurements needed for orders, order spectacles as directed, adjust spectacles, and perform minor repairs or determine when repair is not possible.
Perform fundus photography and ophthalmology imaging procedures as directed, including film and digital photography, optical coherence tomography, and pachymetry.
Help monitor patient flow and advise patients of delays.
Assist with screening phone calls, walk-in patients, and patient inquiries.
Assist with vision clinic coordination and scheduling and coordinate spectacle and supply orders.
Provide patient education as directed by the provider.
Provide support to other clinic areas and staff when directed by the optometrist.