Optometric Assistant/ Paraoptometric

Responsibilities

• Patient Preparation (10%) – Reviews patient’s past medical/ocular history and prepares charts; reviews referral/consult notes and adds pertinent information into patient’s notes.
• Patient Intake (25%) – Obtains patient vitals and visual acuity; gathers patient information including chief complaint and completes a thorough history of present illness.
• Pre-Testing/Patient Care (35%) – Performs pre-testing based on presenting concern, including autorefraction, rebound tonometry, extraocular movements, lensometry, pupillary function, and confrontation visual fields; administers diagnostic drops as directed and educates patients on side effects.
• Special Testing (10%) – Obtains imaging and performs testing as ordered, including macular/nerve OCT, visual fields, and fundus photography.
• Referrals (5%) – Places and tracks external referrals for surgical pre-testing and consults; tracks status and obtains reports once available.
• Patient Education (5%) – Provides limited patient education as directed by optometrist; assists support staff in triaging and scheduling concerns.
• Clinical Environment/Equipment (10%) – Maintains organization of exam rooms and clinical areas; cleans and disinfects instrumentation per infection control guidelines; maintains sample cabinet inventory; orders contact lens trial prescriptions and solutions as needed.

Requirements

• High school graduate or equivalent.
• Active BLS certification.
• Entry-level paraoptometric or certified ophthalmic assistant certification preferred.
• One (1) year of experience as optometric assistant, ophthalmic assistant, or paraoptometric preferred.

Skills

• Basic knowledge and skills appropriate for optometric care.
• Telephone and computer skills necessary.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
• Maintains universal precautions.
• Flexible in accepting work assignments; self-motivated.
• Ability to seek and utilize supervision appropriately.
• Ability to communicate with a diverse patient population.
• Maintains patient confidentiality as defined by HIPAA regulations.

Physical Effort

Must be able to sit, stand, and/or walk for an entire workday. Must be able to lift, carry, push, pull, and/or twist while holding up to 25 lbs. occasionally.

Schedule

Full-time; flexible and varied. Evening hours may be required. Regular and timely attendance required. Telecommuting not an option for this position.