Ophthalmology Technician - Farmington - Part Time

About the Role

Works directly with patients, parents, and doctors, striving for 100% patient satisfaction and positive outcomes in all cases. An Ophthalmology Technician is the first clinician to service the patient prior to seeing the physician, responsible for testing eye function in preparation for the appointment. Directs the flow of activities throughout the patient’s visit and remains calm under pressure, especially with young children. Operates within the scope of practice guidelines of the American Ophthalmology Association and the Connecticut Department of Public Health.

Responsibilities

• Obtain chief complaint, HPI, past medical/surgical history, family history, social history, medications, and allergies.
• Test eye functions, including:
  • Distance/near vision, depth perception, color and peripheral vision, strabismus screening.
  • IOP with tonopen, iCare, and/or applanation on all cooperative patients.
  • Check present correction, clean glasses, and verify glasses match written prescription.
  • Confrontational fields, amplitudes on patients with CI symptoms, near convergence, pupil checks, and measuring strabismus.
• Dilate pupils using appropriate drops and explain the process to patients or parents.
• Perform auto-refraction and refract patients as needed.
• Manage patient flow by bringing patients to exam rooms in a timely manner.
• Triage walk-in and emergency patients to determine if same-day care is needed and which doctor should see them.
• Coordinate sterilization of instruments with central sterilization and calibrate/maintain optical instruments per guidelines.
• Communicate with the front desk regarding delays or urgent patient needs.
• Maintain clean waiting rooms and clinical areas, restock supplies, and perform daily clean sweeps.
• Handle patient calls/messages and document all communication in the EMR or paper chart.
• Delegate medical advice to the patient’s physician and prepare/fax prescriptions.
• Manage eye drop storage, handling, and daily sign-in/out.
• Fill, prepare, and organize charts; purge outdated charts.
• Answer phones, schedule appointments, and cover the front desk as needed.
• Send out medical records, prescriptions, and dictation.
• Issue no-show letters and document them in patient charts.
• Follow proper opening and closing exam room procedures.

Requirements

• High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent education required.
• 1 year of experience as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant/Technician preferred.
• Certification for Ophthalmic Technician from an accredited organization (e.g., JCAHPO) preferred at hire or must be acquired within 12–24 months.
• CPR (BLS) certification preferred at hire or must be acquired within 1 month.

Skills

• Knowledge of managed care, commercial/federal agencies, and medical terminology (CPT, ICD-9/10 codes).
• Proficiency with diagnostic equipment, including:
  • Lensometer, phoropter, iCare/tonopen/applanation, fundus camera, OCT.
  • RETeval machine, Pentacam, Accutome, TOPCON Aladdin, TOPCON OCT, Optos.
• Adherence to HIPAA and confidentiality standards.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written).
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff, patients, and external contacts.
• Flexibility to adapt to workload changes, competing demands, and unexpected events.
• Dependability in attendance, punctuality, and responsiveness to management.
• Commitment to safety, security, and proper use of equipment/materials.
• Proficiency with medical billing/scheduling software, Microsoft Office, and internet applications.
• Patience with children and ability to provide a positive environment for patients and staff.

About Us

Connecticut Children’s is the only health system in Connecticut 100% dedicated to children. With a legacy spanning over 100 years, we offer personalized medical care in more than 30 pediatric specialties across Connecticut and two other states. Our transformational growth establishes us as a destination for specialized medicine, enabling us to reach more children closer to home. We are committed to breakthrough research, superior education, innovative community partnerships, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, fostering a welcoming environment for patients, families, and team members.