Ophthalmic Assistant

Job Summary

A healthcare provider to assist patients and providers with direct and indirect patient care. Provide care
to patients with ophthalmic problems including but not limited to: patient intake at office visit, documentation, clerical, environmental, and organizational tasks, visual acuity testing, visual assessment, and tonometry. Works under the direction of the clinical provider (Ophthalmologist), Optometrist and office manager. Assists with appointment scheduling and maintaining medical record documentation in EPIC EHR system as required. Serves as a provider’s scribe as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Education: High School Diploma or Equivalent
Minimum Years of Experience: 6 months of experience under the supervision of a physician or Senior Ophthalmic Technician in a clinical/healthcare setting.
Substitutable Education & Experience (Optional): None.
Required Certifications/Licensure: International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology Certificate Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) within 18 months of hiring;

Current Basic Life Support certification (BLS) - or may be obtained within 90 days of hire date.
Required Training: General knowledge of medical ethics and confidentiality;

Successful completion of the basic LMC competency assessment for Ophthalmic Assistants within probationary period or any extension thereof;

Successful completion of an LMC approved Medication Administration training course

Essential Functions

• Works in a cooperative manner that is consistent with LMC’s Service Expectations policy.
• Participates in activities related to patient care.
• Records patient data and observations relevant to patients needs and in accordance with credentials.  
• Recognizes need for safety measure and takes appropriate action to prevent injury.  
• Demonstrates ability to provide a comfortable environment of care in accordance with office standards.  
• Effectively uses electronic, verbal, non-verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills in a clear and concise manner to ensure appropriate understanding and response and demonstrates open communication with co-workers.  
• Provides safety measures in accordance with office standards. 
• Abides by LMC’s Code of Conduct, accepts work assignments readily, and adheres to dress code and maintains personal hygiene and cleanliness appropriate to contact with patients, visitors and coworkers, supports and participates actively in change processes/performance improvement activities by willingly adopting new methods.
• Uses time and supplies/equipment in an efficient and effective manner. 
• Demonstrates ability to coordinate multiple tasks. 
• Completes assigned tasks within specified time frame. 
• Prioritizes workload to best meet both patient and provider needs.
• Willing to orient and train new employees as asked.  
• Enters pertinent information into Epic.
• Verifies that all information in the patient chart is correctly entered and associated; and initiates appropriate action when necessary (lab labels, lab requisition, visit summary, etc.). 
• Schedules physician appointments, requests copies of the medical record (when indicated) and arrange for patient referral as requested. 
• Demonstrates knowledge and effective use of medical terminology.
• Maintains established stock levels of clerical supplies. 
• Restock and maintain rooms with supplies needed for patient care.  
• Assists in performing and documenting environmental checks as required by LMC policy and regulatory agencies.  
• Functions as a Clinical Scribe as needed: While functioning in the Scribe role the Clinical Scribe must adhere to LMC’s policy and procedures for scribes.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Perform pre-exam testing to include visual acuity assessment, including pinhole and glare testing, confrontational visual field testing, assess extra ocular muscles, pupillary evaluation, tonometry, assess angles, pupillary dilation, and all other patient services as requested by the physician including, but not limited to: color vision screening, stereopsis, dry eye testing, and exophthalmometry.
• Perform lensometry and specialized testing including, but not limited to: visual fields, keratometry, A/B scans, and ophthalmic photography optical coherence tomography (OCT), Optical Biometry (IOL Master).
• Perform retinoscopy and refractometry. 
• Assist with minor surgical procedures or laser treatments as directed by physician. 
• Manages medications according to LMC policy, procedures and within scope of practice for credential.
• Assist with fitting contact lenses and instruct patients in care and insertion of lenses.
• Manages medications according to LMC policy, procedures and within scope of practice for credential.
• Clean surgical instruments in preparation for sterile processing. Inspect instruments periodically for damage, send for repair, and request a replacement, as necessary.
• Educate patients regarding administration of medications and pre- and post-operative instructions as directed by physician.
• Conduct inventory of ophthalmic supplies, including pharmaceuticals and instruments on a regular basis and assist with maintenance of clinical examination equipment.  
• Open and close exam lanes daily, ensuring that equipment is wiped down in an appropriate manner, battery powered instruments are seated properly in re-charge wells, slit lamps and projectors are switched off under covers
• Maintains required certifications, completes yearly safety training and mandatory classes and clinical competences assessments, and complies with annual employee health requirements.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.