Health Technician; Optometry

Summary WG Bill Hefner Salisbury VA Medical Center is recruiting for 1 vacancy as an Health Technician (Optometry) in the Kernersville - NC clinic. The Health Technician (Optometry) will support Optometrists in diagnosis – treatment – prevention – follow-up care and patient counseling.

Duties

• Responsible for obtaining a patient's physical history to include chief complaint – present illness – past history – and current eye medications.
• Follows Eye Clinic and facility-wide patient care medical policies and procedures.
• Obtains ophthalmic and medical information from patients and documents all pertinent information appropriately in CPRS.
• Performs duties such as measuring and recording visual acuity (with use of pin hole testing as indicated) – and where needed by obtaining accurate potential acuity meter – laser interferometry – contrast sensitivity or other specialized visual acuity measurements.
• Determines the presence or absence of fusion – and performs stereo acuity measurements – accurate assessment of accommodation – near point of convergence and other tests of ocular alignment (far and near).
• Performs Amsler grid testing – administers eye drops under the supervision of an eye care provider (optometrist or ophthalmologist).
• Performs patient spectacle fitting and dispensing as needed (e.g. – selection of appropriate frame – ophthalmic lenses – etc).
• Has knowledge of ophthalmic medications and supplies.
• Has knowledge of eye anatomy and function and provides advanced patient education for eye health and/or vision conditions.
• Provides basic triage of patient telephone calls – Secure Messages – or other requests from patients or other Health Care System staff.
• Position is GS-7 level.
• Maximum level is also GS-7.
  
  Work Schedule:
  
  Full-Time (semi-compressed tour may be available). Subject to the needs of the service.
• Compressed/Flexible: yes. Telework:
  Not available. Travel:
  Not expected. Virtual:
  This is not a virtual position.
• Position Description/PD#:
  Health Technician (Optometry)/PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment
  
  Incentives:
  
  NO.
• Physical Requirements:
  
  The individual must be able to work for sustained periods under pressure.
• Heavy clinics will occasionally require long hours under hectic conditions – and the ability to be flexible in regards to patient need is critical.
• More specifically – the position requires the operation of several different devices under dim illumination for the examination of patients.
• These generally require that the operator sit opposite the patient – using one hand to support the eyelids in the static position while the body – head – and other hand of the operator must be able to shift positions sometimes rapidly to obtain the optimal picture field during an angiography procedure.
• In addition – the operator's eye is employed in this arrangement and the combination of static position and adjusting movements can be stressful and tiring.