This is a Part-Time position located at the Peoria, Illinois Outpatient clinic location. ** This announcement was extended on 1/27/2023 to obtain a greater applicant pool. Applicants will be referred at regular intervals until all positions are filled. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/27/2023. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade, GS-05, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: providing direct patient care in an eye clinic (or similar environment); obtaining patient medical history; documenting patient medical records; scheduling appointments; performing specialized ocular screening examination/tests. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a half year of graduate education (9 semester hours or equivalent) with a major that included courses directly related to the work of this position. Such graduate education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond a bachelors degree which includes graduate courses directly related to the work of the position. . You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: Ongoing mix of sitting, standing, walking, bending, and carrying light weight items. Many of the position's major duties require a high degree of manual dexterity and accuracy. Occasional heavy lifting may be required. In some instances, interactions with patients, caregivers, and staff can become intense and the employee may be placed in a position of stress. ["This position independently provides direct patient care services related to patient education, selection, ordering, verification, troubleshooting, adjustment and repair of ophthalmic lenses and eyewear. When ordering eyeglasses, this employee will educate the patient on the lens materials, lens designs, frames, tints and coatings that have been prescribed and will assist patient in the selection and ordering of proper fitting standard eyewear frames with understanding of frame selection to include the following: size, materials, relationship between frames, lenses and face. Major Duties include but are not limited to: Takes measurements of interpupillary distances, optical centers, and multifocal or progressive addition lens segment heights will be accurately obtained and documented. Adjust eyeglasses for comfortable fit and proper alignment of optical centers and segment heights for optimal visual performance and will instruct/educate patients on how to wear and care for eyeglasses. The incumbent will have the skills to repair broken or defective eyeglasses. Acts the front-line staff member for patients with concerns regarding eyewear and will triage patient concerns by manual or automated lensometry verification, troubleshooting all optical issues and verify with that eyeglass fabrication is completed as prescribed. Consistently communicates and treats Veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner and handles conflict and Veteran concerns constructively and appropriately. Documents patient care activities properly and clearly in the patient's electronic record in a timely manner. Tracks eyeglass orders weekly for verification of receipt of consult and obtain tracking information as needed to assist the Veteran. Notifies Veteran's when eyeglasses are ready for pickup Following appropriate infection control guidelines, cleans and disinfects equipment and sample frames, uses proper hand hygiene between patient encounters, and maintains optical space, including frame displays and fitting area. Work Schedule: 10:00am to 2:00pm (part-time position) Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (OA)/PD21241A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.