Jobs for People with MS: National MS Society

Summary The employee provides primary eye care technical assistance to the Service Unit Optometrists and Opthalmologists. The position demands a high degree of independent activities, medical technical skills and personal responsibility. The employee performs difficult and advanced ophthalmic procedures independently and assist the eye care providers in the examination and treatment of patients to increase the overall efficiency of the department. Responsibilities Performs screenings to include: visual acuity, confrontation fields, extra-ocular muscle movements, pupillary reaction, interpupillary distance measurements, lens neutralization manual and automated. Performs other tests as requested by the eye care professional, such as, but not limited to visual fields, goldman applanation tonometry, tonopen tonometry, color vision, depth perception, pachymetry, autorefraction, amsler grid testing, sphygmomanometer, temperature reading and random blood sugar evaluation. Performs screening which includes taking a case history on all patients and demonstrating competency in interviewing all ages. The employee reviews the chart for pertinent health information, and obtains ocular information from outside agencies that have provided services. Assist the eye care professional in the examination as required. Prepares the patient, swabbing the area clean before and after, removing eye shields, prosthetics, pressure patches, contact lenses, preparing the room and instruments for the procedure, assists with positioning the patients head or holding the eyelids apart. Provides and assists in one-to-one, group and community patient education relative to optical and ocular disease conditions. Subjects include but are not limited to the proper use of pharmacological agents, diagnoses, prognosis, eye wear use and adaptation and contact lens education. Provides orientation and training for other employees and interns and maintains the supply of patient education materials. Performs complicated frame measurements, verifies spectacle prescriptions, repairs most damaged frames and performs basic optical bench work. Advises patients on appropriate lens materials, lens and frame design. Completes the appropriate paperwork for ordering, providing price quotes and logging orders for accounting purposes. Requirements Conditions of Employment Must pass pre-employment examination. Selectee may be subject to a probationary/trial period ESEP appointees typically serve a two year trial period U.S. Citizenship is required Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes. Confidential Financial Disclosure Form required. Measles and Rubella immunization required for selectees born after 1957 and seasonal influenza immunization is required for all staff working in Indian Health Service health care facilities. COVID-19 vaccination is required for all selectees prior to entrance on duty. The selected individual is required to obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including any licensure requirements. If privileges are not obtained or maintained during employment, the employee will be subject to adverse actions, up to and including removal from Federal service. On-call hours or standby duty may be required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/. You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you. Background Investigation: If you are selected for this vacancy, you must undergo a pre-employment fingerprint check and background investigation. Fingerprint results and background investigation documentation must be cleared prior to hire. After you begin your employment, your continued employment is contingent upon the outcome of a complete background investigation as determined by the sensitivity level of your position. The investigation must find that you are suitable for Federal employment in your position. If you are found not suitable, you will be terminated after you begin work. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or subject to possible criminal charges. You may be subject to a credit check as a part of the background investigation process. Qualifications To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying. 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; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. BASIC REQUIREMENT(S): 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. or Education and Training For GS-4: Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in subjects related to the position. For GS-5: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position. In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: FOR GS-04: 6 months of general experience AND 6 months of specialized experience and/or 2 years above high school education. Specialized experience includes: performing tests requested by a physician, but not limited to visual fields, performed selected eye care test while understanding the protocol from the physician. FOR GS-05: 1 year of specialized experience at the GS-04 level and/or 4 years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree, with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position, specialized experience includes: performing tests requested by eye professional, such as, but not limited to visual fields, goldman applanation tonometry, tonopen tonometry, color vision, depth perception, pachymetry, autorefraction, amsler grid testing, sphygmomanometer, temperature reading and random blood sugar evaluation; performing selected eye care test while u understanding the protocol without direct supervision, assistance or intervention from the optometrist; performing retinal photography to assist the optometrist with photo-documentation and optic nerve tomography to assist with glaucoma management or other diseases; proper use of pharmacological agents, diagnosis, prognosis, eye wear use and adaption and contact lens education. FOR GS-06: 1 year of specialized experience at the GS-05 level, specialized experience includes: performing tests requested by eye professional, such as, but not limited to visual fields, goldman applanation tonometry, tonopen tonometry, color vision, depth perception, pachymetry, autorefraction, amsler grid testing, sphygmomanometer, temperature reading and random blood sugar evaluation; performing selected eye care test while u understanding the protocol without direct supervision, assistance or intervention from the optometrist; performing retinal photography to assist the optometrist with photo-documentation and optic nerve tomography to assist with glaucoma management or other diseases; proper use of pharmacological agents, diagnosis, prognosis, eye wear use and adaption and contact lens education. FOR GS-07: 1 year of specialized experience at the GS-06 level, specialized experience includes: performing tests requested by eye professional, such as, but not limited to visual fields, goldman applanation tonometry, tonopen tonometry, color vision, depth perception, pachymetry, autorefraction, amsler grid testing, sphygmomanometer, temperature reading and random blood sugar evaluation; performing selected eye care test while u understanding the protocol without direct supervision, assistance or intervention from the optometrist; performing retinal photography to assist the optometrist with photo-documentation and optic nerve tomography to assist with glaucoma management or other diseases; proper use of pharmacological agents, diagnosis, prognosis, eye wear use and adaption and contact lens education. Time In Grade Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP). You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement. Education This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.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/. Additional Information Per IHS policy (SGM 21-04) IHS selectees to positions located in Federally operated hospitals, health centers, and clinics must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before entry on duty or have IHS approve a medical or religious exemption. If an exemption is approved then wearing a face mask and regular testing for COVID-19 will be required. Your Human Resources Specialist will provide a list of documents acceptable as vaccination proof and instructions on how to submit your vaccination documentation or how to request a medical or religious exemption, if needed. Additional selection(s) of candidates may be possible within 90 days from the date the certificate of eligibles was issued for this announcement. 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. IHS may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their directly related previous non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. This position is covered by a Bargaining Unit. Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized. At least a 6 month service agreement will be required. This position has promotion potential to the GS-07 grade level. Promotion to the next grade level is at management's discretion and is based on your demonstrated ability to perform the higher level duties, the continuing need for the higher level duties, and "Regulatory/Administrative" approval. Promotion to the next higher grade level is not guaranteed and no promise of promotion is implied.