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The Cheyenne VA Health Care System is recruiting for Health Technicians (Optometry) in Surgical Service at the Loveland, CO Outpatient Clinic. You may be required to operate a government vehicle. Applicants pending the completion of educational, or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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 Technician (Optometry) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Experience and Education. (1) 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 (2) 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 (3) 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 health technician/assistant duties and one year above high school with a minimum of six semester hours of health technician/assistant or health technician (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. Licensure/Certification/Registration. None. References: VA Handbook 5005/142 Part II, Appendix G68. 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. 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 health technicians (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. 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. References: VA 5005/142 Part II Appendix G68 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-4 to GS-7. Physical Requirements: 1. The Health Technician needs to be able to work under pressure. 2. The Health Technician may require flexibility in schedule with breaks taken when available. 3. The ability to be flexible concerning patient need is critical. 4. Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; reaching above shoulders; use of fingers; use of both hands; walking 4 hours; standing 4 hours; sitting 4 hours; repeated bending 4 hours, body in awkward positions while performing dental work; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. ["The incumbent performs routine clinical procedures and clinical tasks for which he/she has been deemed competent. He/she functions under the clinical oversight of Optometrist or Ophthalmologist. Overall, the Eye Clinic Section Chief will provide administrative supervision and assignment of work. The guidelines of this position include Surgical Service Line SOP's, yearly competencies, and a handbook orientation process upon hire. Duties and Responsibilities Include: Assist in taking patient history for review by doctor to include chief complaint, history of present condition, pertinent medical, ocular, and family history and other information as determined to be important. Verify spectacle prescription data including sphere, cylinder, prism, interpupillary Distance, using a lensmeter. Measure visual acuity, distance and near, corrected and uncorrected. Measure corneal curvature using a keratometer. Assess color vision using psuedoisochromatic plates if directed. Uses auto-refractor to determine patient's spectacle prescription. Performs other screening duties as directed. Instills drops as directed. Performs intra-ocular pressure screenings. Performs visual field evaluations using automated & manual visual field analyzers independently. Assist in selecting and fitting of eyeglass frames and lenses to include appropriate measurements required to order. Ordering spectacles as directed. Adjusting spectacles for proper fit. Minor repair of spectacles and determining when spectacles are not repairable. Perform fundus photography on patients as directed; perform ophthalmology MIC imaging procedures on patients as directed (by OD or OMD) to include film photography, digital photography, ocular coherence tomography, imaging modalities, and pachyometry . Assist in monitoring patient flow to ensure that patients are not kept waiting 2 unreasonable times or are advised of delay. Assist in screening phone calls, walk-in patients, and patient inquiries. Assist in vision clinic coordination and scheduling. Assist in coordination of spectacle and supply orders. Deliver patient education as directed by provider. Provides support to other areas in the clinic and staff when directed by Optometrist. Assist in other patient care tasks or clinic administrative tasks as deemed appropriate by the staff Optometrist/Ophthalmologist Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00a - 4:30p Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 53233A, 53234A, 53235A, 53236A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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