This position is located at the at VA Manchester Healthcare System in Manchester, NH, in the Optometry section of Surgical Service. Preferred Experience: The preferred candidate will have at least one year experience as a clinically based health technician in the field of Optometry and/or Ophthalmology. 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: Must be proficient in both spoken and written English. 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. Examples are listed below: (a) Six months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge of optometry assistant theory and practices and general understanding of the HT/assistant duties and one year above high school with a minimum of six semester hours of health technician/assistant or HT(optometry)/assistant related courses. (b) Successful completion of a course for health care technicians or assistants, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or hospital training in a program given by the U.S. Armed Forces, the U.S. Maritime Service, or the U.S. Public Health Service, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Health Technician (Optometry), GS-04 Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. Assignment. Employees at this grade level serve in a health technician (optometry) entry level position. More experienced staff members guide and provide daily direct supervision for the health technicians (optometry) Health Technician (Optometry), GS-05 Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of basic eye anatomy and function. (b) Ability to obtain, document and record ophthalmic and medical information from patients in order to develop an accurate electronic progress note. (c) Ability to practice basic hygiene and infection control in a patient care setting. (d) Ability to follow eye clinic and patient care medical policies and procedures. (e) Ability to perform minor eyeglasses repairs, such as replacing nose pads and screws. Assignment. Employees at this grade level serve as developmental level 1 HT (optometry). It is expected they receive guidance from more experienced staff members for patient issues and require daily and direct contact with senior optometry personnel at the work site. Health Technician (Optometry), GS-06 Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Ability to provide patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions, to include assisting with patient contact lens insertion, removal and hygiene (cleaning and disinfection) care. (b) Ability to accurately enter into a phoropter the auto refractometry or habitual refractive prescription (i.e., eyeglasses prescription) or lensometer findings, including sphere, cylinder and axis. (c) Ability to perform 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 the ability to transpose sphere, cylinder and axis. (d) Ability to provide basic triage of patient telephone calls or optometry requests. (e) Knowledge of ophthalmic medications and supplies needed in the process of restocking the eye clinic exam rooms. Assignment. Employees at this grade level serve as developmental level 2 HT (optometry). The HT operate and monitor commonly used equipment performing basic screening procedures. The HT understand basic hygiene, cleaning and disinfection of reusable medical equipment (RME) instruments and ophthalmic equipment. Health Technician (Optometry), 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Ability to determine preliminary objective estimate and/or refinement of the optical status of the eye, not to include the patient's final subjective refraction. (b) Ability to triage and manage eyeglasses issues (e.g., measurement of vertex distance, base curve, prism correction, center thickness, slab off, Fresnel prism, decentration, etc.). (c) Ability to perform accurate assessment of accommodation, near point of convergence and ocular alignment (far and near). (d) Ability to assist the eye care provider (optometrist or ophthalmologist) with ophthalmic procedures. (e) Ability to assist with obtaining accurate ocular cultures and smears. (f) Knowledge and ability to provide advanced patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions. Assignment. Employee at this grade level serves as a full performance level health technician (optometry). They perform duties such as measuring and recording visual acuity (with use of pinhole testing as indicated), obtaining accurate potential acuity meter, laser interferometry, contrast sensitivity or other specialized visual acuity measurements. They evaluate pupillary light responses and measure pupil size, determine the presence or absence of fusion and perform stereoacuity measurements. The HT perform Amsler grid testing, administer eye drops under the supervision of an eye care provider (optometrist or ophthalmologist), perform basic tonometry (e.g., non-contact, Goldmann, Tono-Pen) and estimate the anterior chamber depth with a penlight or slit lamp biomicroscope. The HT are skilled in properly reading a basic spectacle prescription using an automated or manual lensometer, obtaining accurate auto refractometry and keratometry measurements, performing confrontation and standard automated visual field testing and administering and scoring basic color vision tests (e.g., pseudoischromatic plates, Farnsworth D-15). The HT are also adept at measuring and recording corneal thickness by pachymetry as well as performance of advanced corneal measurements, exophthalmometry, tear testing and ocular imaging. References: VA Handbook 5005/142 Part II Appendix G68 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. Basic Requirements: 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). ["The incumbent serves as liaison between the patient, eye care providers, other health care providers, and administrative staff. The incumbent is responsible for the efficient operation of the Optometry clinic. He/she performs specific tests and assists the optometrist in evaluating patients. This requires experience within the field with direct patient care and good working knowledge of the appropriate supplies and equipment for testing. They will adhere to accepted clinic and Medical Center safety standards and precautions. They will be expected to perform a variety of tests under the supervision of an Optometrist. They include (but are not limited to) the following: Direct Patient Care Work-Up Clinical Skills: Medical and ocular history review Chief complaint intake Auto or Manual Lensometry Visual Acuity assessment Preliminary manifest refraction Extraocular muscle motility assessment Confrontation visual fields Pupil testing Administer diagnostic eye drops per clinic Standard Operating procedure Tonometry Goldmann and/or iCare Anterior chamber angle assessment When needed: Color vision testing Auto keratometry Stereo vision testing Amsler grid testing Automated Visual field testing Obtain OCT imaging Obtain fundus photos and anterior segment photos Central corneal thickness measurement (pachymetry) Other clinical skills that will be needed on a less regular basis: Frame selection, fitting, measurements Dispensing of eyeglasses Blood pressure measurement Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PDF03021 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS):Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required NOTIFICATIONS: This position is a AFGE Bargaining Unit Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held."]

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