Lead Health Technician (Ophthalmology)

Description:

The Lead Health Technician (Ophthalmology) position is located at the Salisbury VA Medical Center (SVAMC) in Salisbury, NC within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Mid Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6). This position will deliver care at the Salisbury Medical Center, Kernersville Healthcare Center (HCC), and the Charlotte Health Care Center (HCC) as the need arises.

Requirements:

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 Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Education and Experience:
  • 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:
    • Six months of experience in the health care field; and one year above high school. OR;
    • 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;
    • Six months of experience in the health care field and completion of an independent study course in Ophthalmic Medical Assisting.
      • NOTE: Applicants must submit a copy of their transcripts.
    • 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. Select the option that best describes your education and/or experience requirement :
• 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).
  • NOTE : All certified applicants must provide proof of certification/ JCAHPO ID Number.

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).

Grade Determinations : In addition to the basic requirements above, applicants must meet the following grade requirements:

• Lead Health Technician (Ophthalmology), GS-9
  • Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-8 grade level
  • Assignment: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. The Lead Health Technician (Ophthalmology) carries additional responsibilities that involve the oversight of specific services within the ophthalmology clinic. The Lead Health Technician (Ophthalmology) may assist with technician oversight duties including: making work assignments, monitoring work flow, providing input on performance, resolving daily workplace issues, and maintaining efficient flow of patient care. They may provide training to eye care staff, students and/or trainees; and may provide input into special advancements, promotions, and disciplinary actions.
  • Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
    1. Ability to work with a team to provide technical guidance, plan, organize, and coordinate activities of a Health Technician (Ophthalmology) in order to effectively complete job duties of assignment such as distributing workload, monitoring the status and progress of work, monitoring accuracy of work, etc.;
    2. Ability to communicate effectively in order to meet program objectives. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels;
    3. Ability to assist in Health Technician (Ophthalmology) development, outcome management, and strategic planning; and
    4. Ability to act as liaison between Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) to resolve informal employee complaints and concerns.

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-09 .

Preferred Experience: Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) certification is required.

Physical Requirements: This position requires to moderately lift and carry 15 to 44 pounds, reach above shoulders, to use fingers and both eyes, have depth perception, distinguish different shades of color, have the ability to hear (hearing aids are permitted) and the ability to access all patient care areas as required. The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as standing or walking for prolonged periods of time, frequent bending, reaching, stooping, and stretching to set up and take apart equipment and apparatus, lifting and repositioning patients (60 to 200 plus pounds), and pushing or pulling heavy objects and/or equipment.