Optometry Assistant (Hospital Blank Assistant 2)

About the role

This position provides patient work-up for comprehensive Optometry / contact lens services in all eye center locations in the Sacramento/Roseville/Folsom/Davis areas.

Key Responsibilities

• Patient work-up and visual assessment (95%)
• Pre-operative procedures (5%)

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent experience/training
• Completion of the Ophthalmic Medical Assisting course (independent study course offered by the American Academy of Ophthalmology) within three (3) months of hire
• Experience in a similar role/function
• Knowledge and skills to interview patients in a courteous, caring manner
• Knowledge to appreciate vital aspects of patient medical and ophthalmic history
• Skill to take accurate history; ability to document medications, allergies, and use pain scale
• Ability to write legibly and grammatically correctly; knowledge of correct spelling of ophthalmic terms and diagnosis
• Knowledge and skills to assess all levels of visual acuity in all age groups using Snellen eye chart, near card, Fix and Follow, hand movements, and light perception
• Knowledge of the visual pathway and disease processes that can create visual field defects
• Ability to recognize and avoid artifact while recording
• Knowledge of binocular vision and normal values on the Titmus stereopsis test; ability to perform accurate examination and record it accordingly
• Knowledge of normal color perception and normal values; knowledge of optic nerve, retinal, and inherited color vision disorders; ability to test and record with accuracy
• Knowledge of principles of tonometry
• Knowledge of the anterior chamber, aqueous fluid, and drainage through the trabecular meshwork; understanding of how intraocular pressure can rise and the risk of optic nerve damage and blindness
• Knowledge of normal eye movement; ability to recognize abnormalities by performing nine gaze movements
• Knowledge of strabismus in children, procedures to correct it, and importance of developing binocular vision in young children
• Knowledge of normal pupillary reaction
• Knowledge of spherical, compound, and multifocal lenses; ability to read all powers using A/O or Marco lensometers
• Knowledge of ocular pharmacology including mydriatics, cycloplegics, dyes, anesthetics, and lubricants; knowledge of their action and possible side effects
• Ability to train soft contact lenses, RGP lenses, and specialty medically necessary scleral lenses
• Ability to demonstrate, teach, and instruct patients on insertion and removal of contact lenses
• Ability to stress importance of clean hands, near sterile techniques, and contact lens etiquette
• Ability to educate patients on contact lens product care and appropriate solutions
• Organizational skills to process paperwork for pre-operative patient visits
• Ability to communicate pre-operative processes clearly and concisely to patients
• Ability to capture corneal topography accurately and proficiently
• Knowledge to efficiently capture OCT/OPTOS OCT scans with acceptable signal strengths of optic nerve and macula
• Knowledge and understanding of Tear Care dry eye treatment; ability to set up and power on device for patients undergoing treatment

Preferred Qualifications

• COA (Certified Ophthalmic Assistant) certification within 12 months of hire

Pay

• Salary range: $27.93 – $34.74 hourly
• Salary grade: 280
• UC Job Title: HOSP BLANK AST 2

Schedule

• 100% on-site position
• Shift: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm; can start as early as 7:30 am and stay as late as 6:00 pm
• Ability to work in multiple locations (Sacramento/Roseville/Folsom/Davis areas)
• Must be able to work some Saturday shifts (8:00 am – 4:30 pm) and scheduled weekly late night
• Requires working alternating weekends with schedule adjustments based on clinical needs
• Must be able to work overtime as required
• Possible restricted vacation times due to operational need

Benefits

• High-quality, low-cost medical plans
• Dental and vision coverage (UC paid for you and family)
• Retirement plans including Pension and other Retirement Saving Plans
• Supplemental insurance: additional life, short/long term disability, pet insurance, legal coverage, accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity
• Pregnancy and Parental Leave, Family & Medical Leave, Adoption Assistance, Pay for Family Care and Bonding
• Lactation Support Program and Family Care discounts and resources
• Employee Well-being resources and programming
• On-site Employee Assistance Program including free mental health services
• Generous paid holidays annually
• Paid Time Off / Vacation / Sick Time
• Continuing Education (CE) allowance and Staff Education Reimbursement Program
• Access to free professional development courses and learning opportunities
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer and Student Loan Debt Counseling Program

Physical Demands

• Standing: Continuous 6 to 8+ Hours
• Walking: Continuous 6 to 8+ Hours
• Sitting: Continuous 6 to 8+ Hours
• Lifting/Carrying 0-25 Lbs: Occasional Up to 3 Hours
• Pushing/Pulling 0-25 Lbs: Occasional Up to 3 Hours
• Bending/Stooping: Frequent 3 to 6 Hours
• Squatting/Kneeling: Frequent 3 to 6 Hours
• Twisting: Frequent 3 to 6 Hours
• Climbing (stairs or ladders): Occasional Up to 3 Hours
• Reaching overhead: Frequent 3 to 6 Hours
• Keyboard use/repetitive motion: Continuous 6 to 8+ Hours

Mental Demands

• Sustained attention and concentration: Continuous 6 to 8+ Hours
• Complex problem solving/reasoning: Continuous 6 to 8+ Hours
• Ability to organize & prioritize: Continuous 6 to 8+ Hours
• Communication skills: Continuous 6 to 8+ Hours
• Numerical skills: Continuous 6 to 8+ Hours
• Constant Interaction: Continuous 6 to 8+ Hours
• Customer/Patient Contact: Continuous 6 to 8+ Hours
• Multiple Concurrent Tasks: Continuous 6 to 8+ Hours