Health Technician (Optometry)

Veterans Health Administration • Kansas City, MO

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Kansas City VA Medical Center is currently recruiting for one Health Technician for the Optometry department. An Optometry Technician in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) supports Optometrists and Ophthalmologists in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, follow-up care and patient counseling.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents ).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• Will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period.
• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Experience: One year of experience as a health technician or assistant in the health care field demonstrating the applicant's ability to perform the work or by demonstrating a basic understanding of work in the health care field OR
• Education: Successful completion of two academic years above high school with a minimum of 12 semester hours related to health technician/assistant or health technician (optometry)/assistant or associate degree, or completion of an independent study course in an optometry related technician or assistant field; OR
• Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.
• Health Technician (Optometry) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
• GS-04 Experience: None beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-05 Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
• GS-06 Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
• GS-07 Experience: One year of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled.
• The work of the health technician (eye clinic) requires considerable periods of standing and walking with occasional bending, stooping, and sitting.
• The incumbent will also be required to assist ambulatory, wheelchair, and stretcher bound patients onto and out of exam chairs and back to the original mode of transportation.
• Manual dexterity and very good vision is necessary for the repair of spectacles.

Nice To Haves

• 1 year of Optometric experience in a clinical setting.
• Optometry/Ophthalmology Certification ie. COT, COA, etc

Responsibilities

• Measures and accurately records visual acuity.
• Obtains accurate specialized visual acuity measurements.
• Accurately assesses accommodation, near point of convergence, and ocular alignment.
• Determines a preliminary objective estimate of optical status of the eye (not to include final subjective refraction).
• Obtains, documents, and records ophthalmic and medical information from patients to develop an accurate electronic progress note.
• Practices basic hygiene and infection control in a patient care setting.
• Follows eye clinic and patient care medical policies and procedures.
• Performs minor eyeglass repairs, such as replacing nose pads and screws.
• Provides patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions, to include assisting with patient contact lens insertion, removal, and hygiene (cleaning and disinfection care).
• Accurately enters into a phoropter the autorefractometry, habitual refractive prescription (i.e. eyeglasses prescription), or lensometry findings, including sphere, cylinder, and axis.
• Performs patient spectacle fitting and dispensing, including selection of appropriate frame, ophthalmic lenses, interpupillary measurements (distance and near), and proper segment height determination, as well as transposing sphere, cylinder, and axis.
• Provides basic triage of patient telephone calls or optometry requests.
• Identifies ophthalmic medications and supplies needed for restocking the eye clinic exam rooms.
• Determines preliminary objective estimate and/or refinement of the optical status of the eye, not to include final subjective refraction.
• Triage and manages eyeglasses issues (e.g. measurement of vertex distance, base curve, prism correction, center thickness, slab off, Fresnel prism, decentration, etc.).
• Assists the eye care provider (optometrist or ophthalmologist) with ophthalmic procedures.
• Assists with obtaining cultures and smears.
• Provides advanced patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• 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)
• 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.
• 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 .
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• Federal benefits package

What This Job Offers

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