Optometric Assistant/Technician

The Ophthalmic Assistant (OA)/Ophthalmic Technician will provide clinical assistance to the Eye Care Department. Under new leadership, the Eye Department is invested in blindness prevention for children, adults and seniors in the community. We are recruiting a teammate who wants to make a difference in their community. This position is both operational and clinical in nature and will require adaptability, reliability, accuracy and genuine care for others. The role will include listening and helping patient’s find answers to their eye related questions; helping providers collect & document patients’ medical data; triaging patient phone calls and requests; performing eye tests; taking images of the eyes; assisting with our glasses program in the Optical Shop, helping to rebuild our contact lens program, and supporting specialty projects that help improve access to eye care.

The position reports to the Director of Eye Care Services with accountability to the Specialty Practice Administrator.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist Eye Care providers with patient care:
  • Perform pre-visit planning in preparation of patient appointment.
  • Review and record patient history, including allergies, medications, medical and ocular history, family history, review of symptoms and chief complaint.
  • Perform and record pretesting as directed by Eye Care providers including visual acuities, auto-refraction, lensometry, color vision, stereopsis and iCare tonometry.
  • Perform ancillary testing as directed by Eye Care providers including OCT, visual fields, fundus photography and pachymetry.
  • Provide contact lens insertion and removal training
  • Assist with patient instructions

• Provide patient care support:
  • Triage walk in patients or urgent care phone calls
  • Process and facilitate patient requests for medication refills
  • Process and facilitate patient requests for prescription copies
  • Review schedules and report scheduling errors
  • Monitor and follow up on medical record requests

• • Assist with scheduling external appointments including follow up to insure patient was seen and a report is received
  • Follow up with patients who do not keep follow up or urgent appointments.
  • Submit and track prior authorizations.
  • Assist with completion of forms and letters

• Maintain exam rooms:
  • Open and set up exam rooms at the beginning of each session and close at the end of session.
  • Keep all exam rooms properly stocked and equipment appropriately cleaned
  • Follow health center protocols regarding sterilization
  • Report and monitor equipment repair needs including routine maintenance and periodic equipment calibration
  • Report and monitor housekeeping and facilities needs
• Maintain medical and pharmaceutical supplies:
  • Perform monthly medical supply inventory and ordering
  • Perform monthly diagnostic pharmaceutical inventory and ordering
  • Monitor diagnostic pharmaceuticals for expiration dates and do not use after dates. Dispose of medications according to protocols
  • Monitor and log medication refrigerator temperature

• Maintain Contact Lens inventory:
  • Perform quarterly inventory and order of trial contact lenses
  • Maintain inventory of contact lens solutions
  • Monitor trial contact lenses and contact lens solutions for expiration dates and properly dispose of expired items
• Optical Shop:
  • Assist in Optical Shop as needed including assisting patients with frame and lens selection, placing patient orders for eyeglasses and contact lenses
  • Assist Optical Assistant with frame inventories
  • Assist Optical Assistant with telephone calls and other duties as needed

Qualifications:

Possess a high school diploma and at least two years’ experience as a medical or optometric assistant. Certified Ophthalmic Assistant or Technician preferred. Optical dispensing experience a plus.

Possess an active commitment to excellence in patient care, a desire to improve wellness of our community, an appreciation of community needs, a culturally competent individual, and someone who is excited about the opportunity to deliver eye services.

Physical Requirements:

• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and dedication to the mission of Codman Square Health Center
• Must be able to stand or sit for prolonged periods (50% of the time)
• Must be able to lift 10+ pounds and load onto shelves
• Bilingual strongly preferred

POSITION LEVELS

This OA/OT position has three levels of competence/classification. The distinction between the three levels derives chiefly from competence, credentials and complexities of assignment. Normally, a newly hired employee without or with limited experience/without certification but adequate formal training (on going on-site) would be employed as an OA. As the employee acquires competence to the full requirements of the next level through experience, training and certification, he/she could be promoted to the next appropriate certified level: COA or COT.

PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR:

• Demonstrates characteristics of responsibility and accountability.
• Maintains confidentiality at all times.
• Maintains discretion of conversation in work areas.
• Is pleasant, courteous, and considerate of patients, co-workers, and external professional contacts.
• Demonstrates ability to prioritize demands, work with distractions, adapt to change, exercise efficient time management, and work independently.
• Maintains appropriate chain of command.
• Participates in continuing education for personal and professional growth.

• Maintains patient's right to privacy, assuring dignity in the provision of care and is discreet in all communications, written and oral, about the patient's care.