Ophthalmic Assistant (40 hours/week Bellevue)

About the role

Under the direct supervision of the Department Manager and guidance of the provider, the Ophthalmic Assistant performs a wide range of clinical and technical duties to support the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of eye conditions. This role assists medical providers by delivering high-quality ophthalmic care, performing essential diagnostic testing, and ensuring efficient clinic operations. The Ophthalmic Assistant collaborates closely with providers and clinical staff to facilitate smooth patient visits, enhance workflow efficiency, and contribute to excellent patient outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Reviews scheduled appointments to determine clinic workflow, greets and escorts patients to examination rooms, and prepares them for evaluations or procedures.
• Obtains and documents comprehensive ocular and systemic histories, allergies, medications, and all relevant clinical information in the electronic medical record.
• Performs vision screening and essential ophthalmic testing such as distance and near visual acuity (with and without correction), stereopsis, color vision, extraocular motility, pupil assessments, confrontation visual fields, tonometry using all approved methods, slit lamp assistance, and both manual and automatic lensometry.
• Performs additional technical procedures under provider direction, including manual and automatic keratometry, retinoscopy, refractometry, Potential Acuity Meter testing, visual field testing, fundus and anterior segment photography, external photography, A-scan and B-scan ultrasonography, and contact lens removal, cleaning, and insertion.
• Completes advanced imaging as ordered including OCT, Optos imaging, Pentacam, Fluorescein Angiography, IOL Master biometry, Goldmann Visual Fields, and diabetic retinal photography.
• Administers ophthalmic medications such as drops and ointments as ordered by the provider, and supports therapeutic procedures including foreign body removal.
• Provides scribing support by accurately documenting provider-dictated findings, assessments, treatment plans, and orders into the electronic medical record, while also scanning, uploading, and maintaining accurate clinical documentation in alignment with Kaiser Permanente standards.
• Assists during minor surgical, laser, and other ophthalmic procedures by preparing sterile and clean equipment, setting up procedure trays, and monitoring patient needs throughout the process, following strict adherence to sterile technique at all times.
• Cleans, maintains, and calibrates ophthalmic instruments such as slit lamps, lenses, ophthalmoscopes, and diagnostic devices; packages and sterilizes reusable instruments; arranges repairs or recalibration when needed; and ensures that all supplies, instruments, and medications are properly stocked, sterile, and ready for use.
• Maintains exam and treatment rooms by cleaning and arranging equipment and supplies, requiring regular bending, reaching, and lifting up to 45 pounds throughout the workday.
• Receives and responds to calls, messages, and clinical inquiries in accordance with scope and workflow protocols.
• Provides clear instructions regarding medications, diagnostic procedures, and follow-up care and helps coordinate care across ophthalmology, optometry, optical services, pharmacy, family medicine, and other Kaiser Permanente departments.
• Addresses patient concerns directly when appropriate or routes them to the proper personnel or department for resolution.
• Schedules appointments, answers phones, takes messages, documents visits, maintains departmental logs, assists with supply ordering, and transports equipment or patients as needed.
• Uses the electronic medical record accurately for documentation, workflow tasks, and communication.
• Adheres to all Kaiser Permanente quality, safety, infection-prevention, emergency preparedness, and confidentiality policies.
• Ensures patient safety through proper medication handling, equipment use, fall prevention practices, infection control standards, and consistent use of two patient identifiers and procedural time outs.
• Reports safety hazards, incidents, and unsafe conditions promptly.
• Completes all required Kaiser Permanente training, including classroom instruction, reading assignments, competency validation, and the Independent Study Course for Ophthalmic Assistants.
• Successfully demonstrates required skills through competency check-offs during the training period, including acuity testing, tonometry, lensometry, ocular history intake, medication/allergy documentation, blood pressure measurement, appointment scheduling, and message management.
• Participates in orienting and training new employees.
• Demonstrates service behaviors aligned with the Kaiser Permanente Service Quality Credo and Mission, providing culturally responsive and inclusive service to patients, colleagues, and contracted partners.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED) required.
• Registered Medical Assistant (Washington) within 2 months of hire OR Medical Assistant Certificate (Washington) within 2 months of hire.
• Basic Life Support within 2 months of hire.
• Demonstrated customer service skills, customer focus abilities, and the ability to understand Kaiser Permanente customer needs.
• Computer experience in a MS Windows environment; keyboarding skills.
• Strong written and verbal skills utilized for patient history assessment, medical record documentation, and patient/family education.

Preferred qualifications

• Six (6) months to one (1) year of previous experience as an Ophthalmic Assistant.
• Experience working with contact lens patients and products.
• Experience working in an ophthalmology or optometry practice.
• General medical knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, anatomy, physiology, systemic diseases, ocular diseases.
• Knowledge of ocular emergencies and metric conversion fundamentals of microbial control.
• Graduate of an accredited medical assistant, ophthalmic assistant, or allied health professional program.

Pay

$24.28 - $40.79 / hour

Schedule

Full-time, Day shift. Monday through Friday, with working hours between 07:30 AM and 06:00 PM. 40 scheduled weekly hours.