An official website of the United States government
The Ft. Harrison VA Health Care System located in Montana is currently recruiting for one GS 5, 6, 7 or 8 Health Technician-Ophthalmology Technician.
Learn more about this agency11/04/2024 to 12/31/2024
$48,107 - $85,791 per year
GS 00
1 vacancy in the following location:
No
No
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
No
Permanent
Full-time
Excepted
8
No
Yes
No
CBSU-12599116-25-JMW
817324200
This is an open continuous announcement. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered at regular intervals as additional vacancies occur or on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Applications will remain on file until Dec 31, 24. This announcement is open to current permanent Department of Veterans Affairs employee ONLY. The public MUST apply to EXTERNAL job announcement number: CBSU-12599117-25-JMW.
Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf
Health Technician-Ophthalmology full performance level duties include, but aren't limited to the following:
Provides technical clinical care to patients who have received care provided by Ophthalmologists for diagnosis, treatment, prevention, follow-up care & patient counseling
Performs screening procedures such as patient history, pupil responses, visual acuity & color vision testing
Performs highly technical procedures using complex medical equipment, such as keratometry, tonometry, measuring eye's optical status, pachymetry, topography, ultrasonography, scanning laser imaging, retinal photography & angiography, electrophysiology, etc
Performs intraocular measurements used by surgeons to select appropriate lens implant for cataract surgery
Scrubs in & assists w/ surgical procedures including injections, minor & major operative procedures: wound revisions, eyelid lesion biopsies, cultures conjunctiva or cornea; reformation of anterior chamber, evacuates hyphema, repositions corneal endothelial grafts, intra-vitreous injections & laser surgical procedures
Instills ophthalmic pharmaceutical agents, places/removes eye dressings/shields
Maintains/calibrates/tests equipment
Obtains patient physical history, to include chief complaint; reason for visit; pertinent signs/symptoms; past history both ocular & general; family history both ocular & general; social history & medication/allergy review, including current ocular prescription/non-prescription medications
Tests visual acuity at distance & near, w/ & w/out correction or w/ & w/out pinhole
Measures eyeglass prescription using manual or automated lensometer, records sphere, cylinder, axis & prism in both plus & minus cylinder
Evaluates pupil: records size, shape, symmetry, reaction to light & accommodation & any abnormalities, including relative afferent pupillary defect
Performs basic refractometry uses auto refraction or habitual glass prescription in phoropter
Instills eye medications: i.e., drop or ointments, including anesthetic, dye, dilation, cycloplegic, or antibiotics
Measures intraocular eye pressure using techniques including Goldman applanation tonometry
Performs pachymetry to determine corneal thickness & manual keratometry or automated topography to detinning corneal curvature
Performs intra-ocular lens calculations using IOL Master
Performs automated visual field testing using various perimetry machines
Performs external & fundus photography
Performs Optical Coherence Tomography, of anterior segment, retina & optic nerve
Performs urgent ocular patient screening/triages
Educates patients & legal authorized representatives in eye care, including preoperative & postoperative instructions
Educates/trains medical students, residents & fellows
Ensures proper cleaning & disinfection; calibration, maintenance, backup, annual inventory & orders: instruments, supplies & equipment; obtains quotes as needed & reports needed repairs to biomedical engineering
Maintains current BLS course certification
Protects printed & electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance w/ Privacy Act of 1974 provisions & other applicable laws, federal regulations, VA statutes & policies
Protects data from unauthorized release or from loss; alteration or unauthorized deletion
Follows applicable regulations & instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of access codes, etc
Demonstrates I-Care values when interacting w/ all internal/external customers
Maintains current knowledge of & practices according to The Joint Commission requirements
Protects printed & electronic files containing sensitive data according to Federal privacy Act & confidentiality statutes
Follows regulations & instructions regarding release of sensitive/protected patient/ employee information
May serve on Service Line/VISN 19/medical center committees, workgroups, &/or task forces, etc
Performs other duties as assigned
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
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 w/ the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees w/ 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 monthly maximum of $416.66
Retirement: Traditional federal pension-5 years vesting, & federal 401K w/ 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: Not available
Functional Statement #: PD51477A
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Transcripts can be unofficial transcripts, but must include your name, the school's entire name, the name of the course, date course taken, grade received for the course, amount of credits earned for the course, date degree conferred, (if applicable), (name of degree received, (if applicable).
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Please be clear and specific in describing your experience, or any information in your resume or any attachments you provide. We will not make assumptions regarding any information provided regarding your experience on your resume or any information contained in your application materials. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on 12/31/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12599116.
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/817324200. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about
Interested in a career that offers a true work-life balance? Look no further! The Montana VA Health Care System offers a balance of professional and clinical complexity that stimulates growth yet, it also allows the professional an opportunity to enjoy life outside of work. If you are interested in a career that offers an integrated patient-centered approach while providing compassionate and state of the art care to Veterans, we welcome you to apply. By serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans, we fulfill President Lincoln's promise, "To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan."
The VA is located on the picturesque and historic 138 acres of Fort Harrison that adjoins the capital city, Helena, and serves as the halfway mark between Yellow Stone and Glacier National Parks. The area offers some of the best outdoors activities such as: hiking, biking, rock climbing, fishing, camping, boating, golf, skiing, snowmobiling, and hunting. The Helena area truly is an outdoors playground. Helena offers the perfect mix of social activity, modern businesses and family life making it an ideal location to start a career, raise a family, or ease into retirement.
The health care system offers a 50-bed general medical and surgical facility comprised of a broad range of acute, chronic, and specialized inpatient and outpatient services and is co-located with the VBA Regional Office.
