The Health Technician (Optician) works as a member of the Eye Care Service, Operative Care Division under the supervision of the Supervisory Optician at the Portland, OR VA Portland Health Care System. The Eye Care Service provides comprehensive outpatient and surgical eye & vision care, and low vision rehabilitation services to eligible veterans with approximately 50,000 patient visits annually. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Individual Occupational Requirements: Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. GS-06 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Properly use and maintain all ophthalmic instrumentation and equipment; assist patients in the selection, proper fitting and ordering of standard or safety eye wear frames; educate patients on ophthalmic lens materials, designs, and frames; accurately measure, obtain and document interpupillary distances, optical centers, and multi focal or progressive addition lens; responds to patient's telephone, electronic and in-person inquiries in a timely manner; properly and clearly documents all patient care activities in the patient's electronic patient record in a timely manner. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month & year starting and ending dates AND hours worked per week. There is no educational substitution for the GS-06 level. 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. ["Major duties include but is not limited to: Works in clinic schedule with other clinical staff. Maintains excellent rapport with other clinical staff and participates in clinical staff communication and training efforts. Participates in ongoing clinical education and training as directed by the Supervisory Optician. The Technician will independently provide direct patient care services related to patient education, selection, ordering, verification, troubleshooting, adjustment and repair of ophthalmic lenses and eyewear. When ordering eyeglasses, the Incumbent will educate the patient on the lens materials, lens designs, frames, tints and coatings that they are eligible and entitled to receive. Measurements of interpupillary distances, optical centers, and multifocal or progressive addition lens segment heights will be accurately obtained and documented. The incumbent will assist patient in the selection and ordering of proper fitting standard or safety eyewear frames. The incumbent will properly adjust eyeglasses for comfortable fit and proper alignment of optical centers and segment heights for optimal visual performance. The Incumbent will have the skills to repair broken or defective eyeglasses. The Incumbent will be the front-line staff member for patients with concerns about their new eyeglasses. The Incumbent will triage patient concerns by manual or automated lensometry verification and troubleshooting protocol. If a patient concern with new eyeglasses cannot be satisfactorily addressed by adjustment, and the eyeglasses were fabricated as prescribed, the patient will be scheduled for refraction in Optometry or Ophthalmology. The Incumbent will appropriately triage patients incidentally presenting to Optical Services with new signs or symptoms of ophthalmic or systemic morbidity. All patient care activities will be properly and clearly documented in the patient's electronic patient record in a timely manner. Incumbent is responsible for resolving patient complaints/disputes and acts as a patient advocate. The incumbent will Initiate and monitor scheduling of patients for special procedures and specialty clinics Counsels the patient and family with reference to preventive care, outpatient care, and the use of prescribed treatment and drugs. Receives and directs patients, answers routine inquiries and makes referrals. Determines nature of inquiry and independently responds to all administrative questions. Obtains release forms. Assists patients, visitors, and others requesting information, guidance or referral for special assistance. Responds to patients' telephone, electronic and in-person inquiries in a timely manner. Maintains a professional image for self and staff which is consistent with the vision, mission and values of the Service, the Division, and VAPORHCS. The Technician will perform supervised routine and advanced technical procedures to provide optometrists and ophthalmologists with information and data necessary to assist with delivery of comprehensive eye and vision care services. Cares for patients and sets up and gives treatments that require auxiliary equipment. Performs the full range of complex procedures and examinations for which instructions have been standardized. Procedures involve delicate and exacting steps, the instrumentation is elaborate and complex, and the setting and measurements are very fine. Monitors patients for adverse reactions and takes corrective action based on established policy. Preliminary medical histories will be completed. Medication reconciliation will be performed. Monocular and binocular visual acuities will be measured and documented for both distance and near. Spectacle lenses will be verified and documented. Color vision and stereo visual acuity will be measured and documented. Visual fields will be measured and documented. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm\nPosition Description Title/PD#: Health Technician (Optician)/ 20589-A This is an open continuous announcement. Qualified candidates will be referred to the Selecting Manager approximately every 14 days from the date of posting until the closing date. Physical Requirements: The work requires an ongoing mix of sitting, standing, walking, bending, and carrying light weight items. Many of the positions major duties require a high degree of manual dexterity and accuracy. All patient care activities require PC keyboard and mouse use for data entry in the electronic patient record. Occasional heavy lifting will be required, particularly for patient transfers. In some instances, interaction with patients, caregivers, and staff can become Intense, and the employee may be placed in a position of stress."]