OPHTHALMOLOGY TECHNICIAN

ABOUT LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES:
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) is the second largest municipal health system in the nation.  DHS operates as an integrated health system, operating 25 health centers and four acute care hospitals, in addition to providing health care to youth in the juvenile justice system and inmates in the LA County jails.  Across the network of DHS' directly operated clinical sites and through partnerships with community-based clinics, DHS cares for about 600,000 unique patients each year, employs over 23,000 staff, and has an annual operating budget of 6.9 billion. For additional information regarding DHS please visit www.dhs.lacounty.gov.  

Through academic affiliations with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of Southern California (USC), and the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Sciences (CDU), DHS hospitals are training sites for physicians completing their Graduate Medical Education in nearly every medical specialty and subspecialty. In addition, to its direct clinical services, DHS also runs the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency and the County's 911 emergency response system, as well as Housing for Health and the Office of Diversion and Re-entry, each with a critical role in connecting vulnerable populations, including those released from correctional and institutional settings, to supportive housing.

THE MISSION:
To advance the health of our patients and our communities by providing extraordinary care. 

DEFINITION:
Performs a variety of diagnostic tests to the eyes, including visual fields, as an aid to physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of eye disease and disorders of vision.

• Plots the field of both peripheral and central vision using instruments requiring accurate calibration, such as the Goldman perimeter.
• Measures intraocular tension with an applanation tonometer or MacKay/Marg tonometer.
• Examines for abnormalities of color vision with pseudoisochromatic plates or Ishihara or Rittler tests.
• Uses a lensometer to neutralize lenses and to determine criteria for visual field testing.
• Maintains rapport with patients during long and uncomfortable examinations in which such rapport is essential to accurate testing.
• Takes case histories on ophthalmology patients, updates patients charts with current treatment information, and instructs patients in home care prescribed by the ophthalmologist.
• Prepares patients for examination, treatment or surgery; sets out and passes instruments to the ophthalmologist; cleans ophthalmology instruments and observes for malfunctions, insuring all instruments are properly calibrated.
• Assists provider with examination and procedures as necessary, such as preparing and handling instruments/materials and disinfection treatment sites.
• Performs formal visual field testing, optical coherence tomography scans, and other ophthalmic test as needed.
• Provides information to patients; assists in educating, teaching and encouraging the development of basic health habits and preventive care.
• Enters patient's medical information into the electronic patient charting progress notes in the appropriate medical record.

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS:
Successful completion of a recognized training program or two (2) years of experience working with an Ophthalmologist that includes instruction and practice in mapping visual fields, instruction in diseases of the eye and their pharmacological treatment, and practice in the preparation of patients for surgery.

PHYSICAL CLASS III Moderate:
3 - Moderate: Includes standing or walking most of the time, with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, and reaching: includes working on irregular surfaces, occasionally lifting objects weighting over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:
In order to receive credit for the required certificate under Selection Requirements, you must present a legible copy of the official certificate or official letter from the accredited institution within 15 calendar days of filing your application online.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
Certification issued by Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (www.jcahpo.org) at the level of Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) or higher. 
 
EXAMINATION CONTENT:
The examination will consist of an evaluation of experience based upon application information weighted 100%.

Candidates must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the examination in order to be added to the eligible register.

Notification Letters and other correspondences will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application. It is important that applicants provide a valid email address. Please add baguila@dhs.lacounty.gov and info@governmentjobs.com to your email address book and to the list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as SPAM/JUNK mail.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:
Applications will be processed on "as-received" basis and those receiving a passing score will be promulgated to the eligible register accordingly.

The names of candidates receiving a passing grade on this examination will be added to the Eligible Register and will appear in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of eligibility.
 
No person may compete in this examination more than once every twelve (12) months.

SPECIAL INFORMATION:
Appointees may be required to work any shift including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.

VACANCY INFORMATION:
The resulting eligible register for this examination will be used to fill vacancies throughout the Department of Health Services, as they occur.

AVAILABLE SHIFT: Any

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:

APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE ONLY. APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BY U.S. MAIL, FAX, OR IN PERSON WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" tab for this posting. You can also track the status of your application using this website.

All information is subject to verification. We may reject your application at any time during the examination and hiring process, including after appointment has been made. Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or rescission of appointment.

Utilizing VERBIAGE from the Class Specification and Selection Requirements serving as your description of duties WILL NOT be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the requirements. Doing so may result in an INCOMPLETE APPLICATION and you may be DISQUALIFIED.

This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met. Application filing may be suspended at any time without advance notice.

Fill out your application completely. The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the requirements. Provide any relevant education, training, and experience in the spaces provided so we can evaluate your qualification for the job. For each job held, give the name and address your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, description of work performed, and salary earned. If your application is incomplete, it will be rejected.
 
Application electronically received after 5:00 p.m., PST, on the last day of filing will not be accepted.
 
Note:  If you are unable to attach required documents, you must email the documents to the exam analyst, at the time of filing or within 15 calendar days of filing online. Please include the exam number and exam title.
 
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:
All applicants must enter a valid social security number at the time of filing. Entering anything other than a valid social security number (i.e. 000-00-0000, 111-11-1111, etc.) will result in an automatic rejection of your application.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES:
For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD:
All applicants must file their applications online using their own user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

ADA COORDINATOR PHONE:
(323) 869-7124

CALIFORNIA RELAY SERVICES PHONE:
800-735-2922

DEPARTMENT CONTACT
Brenda Aguila, Exam Analyst
baguila@dhs.lacounty.gov
(213) 288-7000

Salary : $50,254 - $71,502