OPHTHALMIC TECHNICIAN

Essential Duties, Functions And Responsibilities

• Directly responsible for the eyeglass programs in the hospital including but not limited to: Commissioned Corps Eyeglasses, employee safety-glasses, Managed Care Services, Refractive Treatment Services program, the Patient Pay program, and AHCCCS program.
• Assists patients in selecting the correct frames, ordering the frames/lenses, monitoring all billing, verifying the finished eyeglasses against ANSI eyeglass standards, notifying the patient when the eyeglasses are ready to be picked-up, and making all necessary adjustments to the eyeglasses at the time of dispensing.
• Performs screening to include: visual acuity, confrontation visual fields, inter-pupillary distance measurements and neutralization of the patient's glasses by manual and automated lensometry. Records health history and chief complaints.
• Prepares patients for examination. Assists eye care professional in examination as required. Assists with procedures by preparing the patient using standard precautions.
• Provides Navajo and English interpretation/explanation for doctors and patients when needed to answer patient questions, or to prepare the patient for examination and to assist the optometrist and patient in communicating.
• Performs other tests as requested by the optometrist including, but not limited to, visual field testing (automated and manual), non-contact tonometry, visual skills testing, depth perception, keratometry (automated), auto refraction.
• Performs anterior and retinal photography for the documentation of ocular disease. Properly record findings in the patient chart. Correctly instill ophthalmic medications in the patient's eyes for either the purpose of ocular evaluation or therapy in accordance with the optometrist's instructions.
• Inserts and/or prepares the applicable patient flow sheets/forms for the optometrist's use. Educates patients regarding the proper care of eyeglasses and different aspects of ocular health and eyeglasses including but not limited to: bifocals, progressive lenses, various lens materials, tinted lenses, etc.
• Provides and assists one-to-one, group, and community patient education in the Navajo language and in the English language relative to optical and ocular disease conditions; including, but not limited to, the proper use of ocular pharmacological agents, diagnosis, prognosis, follow-up, eye wear, and adjustments of eye-wear.
• Maintains the supply of patient education materials.
• Captures and coordinates the use of services from other providers, schedules patients, transports, and other activities necessary to obtain evaluation and treatment results from referral sources in a timely manner. Coordinates referrals with IHS and non-IHS offices (e.g. Contract Health Services, private insurance companies).
• Completes correspondence, filing and other paperwork related to other eye clinic necessities.
• Maintains equipment, materials and supplies. Cleans equipment after patient use, complies with infection control policies and procedures.
• Completes laboratory request slips and delivers specimens. Delivers and retrieves instruments for sterilization. Maintains calibration for all necessary equipment and instrumentation on a regular basis. Maintains ordering and requests logs of supplies.
• Aids in school screening activities. Trains others in vision screening techniques.
• Attends in-service training and meetings. Represents the hospital at meetings, health fairs, tribal meetings, etc. Performs community vision related surveys, educational meetings, etc.
• Aid in training of other Ophthalmic technicians.
• Takes an active leadership role to ensure that the valued patients receive the very best customer service experience.
• Proactively monitors clinic supply inventory and equipment needs (repairs). Responsible for handling upset patients, as needed. Assess the situation and resolve problem to the patient full satisfaction.
• Aids in Frame Board Management (frame inventory, collecting invoices, generate inventory reports and initiate check requests for lab).
• Works collaboratively with other safety departments and stakeholders to ensure a safe environment.
• Communicates safety information and concerns effectively to colleagues.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Two (2) years of patient care experience.
• High school diploma or Equivalency (HSE).

Other Requirements

• Please email current certificate of Indian blood (CIB), valid insurable driver’s license, high school diploma and college degree or transcripts to Loren.Begay@fdihb.org
• NAVAJO/INDIAN PREFERENCE FDIHB and its facilities are located within the Navajo Nation and, in accordance with Navajo Nation law, has implemented a Navajo/Indian Preference in Employment Policy.