Summary

Ophthalmology Health Technicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) support the needs of the Ophthalmology and Optometry sections including responsibilities assigned by both Section Chiefs. Respond to the needs of the Ophthalmology and Optometry providers - affiliate trainees - including ophthalmology residents - optometry residents - and optometry students. Support Ophthalmologists and Optometrists in diagnosis - treatment - prevention - follow-up care and patient counseling.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency
• Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 38 U.S.C. 7407(d)
• Experience and Education: Experience
• One year of experience in a health care field - such as but not limited to nursing - medical assistant - or health technician
• OR Education
• Two years above high school with a minimum of six semester hours directly related to a health care field or associate's degree in a health care related degree
• OR Experience/Education Combination
• Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying
• Examples are listed below: (a) Six months of experience in the health care field
• and one year above high school
• or (b) Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for health care technicians - hospital corpsmen - medical service specialists - or ophthalmology technicians given by the U.S. Armed Forces
• or (c) Six months of experience in the health care field and completion of an independent study course in Ophthalmic Medical Assisting
• Certification
• All applicants must be certified as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) with the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO)
• The COA certification is JCAHPO's entry-level certification examination for a Health Technician (Ophthalmology)
• Foreign Education
• To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs Grade Determinations: Supervisory Health Technician (Ophthalmology) - GS-10: Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA)
• In addition to meeting the all KSAs for the GS-10 grade level - the candidate must demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment-specific KSA designated by an asterisk (*)
• Ability to work independently to set priorities - delegate tasks - meet multiple deadlines - analyze organizational problems - and develop and implement effective solutions to optimize quality - efficiency - performance - and productivity within the service
• Ability to develop policy - manage equipment requests - and provide workload analysis in Ophthalmology Service
• Demonstrated leadership and managerial skills including skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution to deal with employees - team members - managers and other departments
• and * Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties which includes responsibility for assignment of work to be performed
• competency assessments
• performance evaluations
• selection of staff
• and recommendation of awards - advancements - and when appropriate - disciplinary actions
• Preferred Experience: Two years or more of supervisory ophthalmic health technician experience within VHA
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-10
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is gs-10 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties Included but not limited to: Technician carries additional responsibilities that involve the oversight of specific services within the ophthalmology clinic including: Preparing work assignments
• Monitoring clinical performances of Ophthalmology Health Technician staff
• Conducting performance appraisals - and other clinical and administrative responsibilities to ensure that the mission of the service and the medical center has been satisfied
• Assures compliance with accrediting agency and regulatory requirements - and the quality management program - assuring corrective action is initiated as needed
• Assures orientation and competency assessment of assigned staff
• Develops policies and procedures
• Manages document control
• Develops performance standards - position descriptions and functional statements
• Assumes responsibility for professional and administrative management of an assigned area to include budget execution
• Maintains interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals
• May have overall responsibility for planning - assessing - and evaluating programs to ensure proper coordination between care delivered by the program and overall delivery of healthcare within the facility - or coordination of non-VA care as appropriate
• Support the needs of the Ophthalmology and Optometry sections including responsibilities assigned by both Section Chiefs
• Will respond to the needs of the Ophthalmology and Optometry providers - affiliate trainees - including ophthalmology residents - optometry residents - optometry students
• Independent work is an integral part of the position
• The technician plans and carries out examinations in line with training and accepted practices - and independently makes recommendations about clinical situations - procedures or changes to procedures in some situations
• Work Schedule: Monday to Friday - 8am - 4:30pm Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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) Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 512-260161-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized