Ophthalmic Assistant

City of Hope; Elizabeth (NJ); On-site; USD 25,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Hope in Elizabeth, New Jersey is seeking an Ophthalmic Assistant to support physicians by performing diagnostic tests, measurements, and clinical procedures essential to patient evaluation and treatment planning. This role requires careful documentation in EMR and compassionate patient care in a fast-paced ophthalmic setting.

This full-time, non-exempt position involves travel between offices as needed and contributing to smooth patient flow, accurate charting, and high-quality service

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma or GED; Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline preferred.
• 0-2 years ophthalmic assistant experience (OA1) or 2+ years OAII experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Reviews patient charts for completeness and accuracy.
• Takes ocular and systemic history and records visual acuity.
• Performs testing (OCT, automated visual fields, photography, pachymetry, biometry).
• Performs lensometry, refractometry, slit lamp exams, tonometry, and basic muscle balance testing.
• Acts as scribe, entering data into EMR or paper charts.
• Administers topical ophthalmic or oral medications.
• Assists with informed consent and office procedures.
• Educates patients and manages patient flow; maintains exam room cleanliness.

Skills

Accountability

Accuracy

Adaptability

Communication

Empathetic

Initiative

Judgment

Reliability

Team Player

Relevant computer skills

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

EMR systems

OCT imaging software

Job description

Position Title: Ophthalmic Assistant

Employment Type: Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Practice: NJRetina, a PRISM Vision Group Partner Practice

Location: Elizabeth, New Jersey

Travel: Required between offices dependent on office/location needs

Compensation: $18.00 - $34.68 per hour, based on experience and qualifications

Position Summary:

The Ophthalmic Assistant plays a vital role in supporting physicians by performing a variety of diagnostic tests, measurements, and clinical procedures essential to patient evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment planning. This individual is responsible for accurately documenting patient information in accordance with clinical, regulatory, and organizational standards while delivering exceptional patient care and service throughout the visit. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, compassionate, and committed to providing a positive patient experience in a fast-paced ophthalmic practice

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Reviews patient charts to ensure completeness and accuracy of information.
• Takes an ocular and systemic history and accurately records visual acuity.
• Performs testing required by type of exam scheduled, patient complaint and history, including but not limited to OCT, automated visual fields, photography, pachymetry, biometry.
• Performs lensometry, automated refractometry, slit lamp exam including applanation tonometry and anterior chamber angle assessment, basic muscle balance testing, assesses pupils, confrontation visual fields and gross external exam.
• Performs advanced ophthalmic procedures.
• Acts as scribe while the physician examines patients, entering data into electronic medical records or handwritten in paper charts.
• Administers topical ophthalmic or oral medications.
• Assists ensuring office procedures are adhered to and required informed consent is obtained.
• Assists with patient education.
• Oversees patient flow throughout the day.
• Maintains cleanliness and orderliness of exam rooms during the workday.
• Complies with all practice procedures and protocols. Complies with all State and Federal regulations. Understands and accepts responsibility to report potential or suspected errors to supervisor or Compliance Officer.
• Maintains a positive attitude consisting of cooperation, self-motivation, courtesy, and professionalism.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

Education: High School Graduate or General Education Degree (GED). Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline preferred.
OA1 Experience: 0-2 years of prior ophthalmic assistant experience
OAII Experience: 2+ years of prior ophthalmic assistant experience

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Accountability – Ability to accept responsibility and account for his/her actions and work performed. Willing to accept constructive feedback.
• Accuracy – Ability to perform work accurately and thoroughly with attention to all details of a project or task.
• Adaptability – Ability to adapt to and facilitate change in the workplace.
• Communication – Ability to communicate effectively with others using good listening skills.
• Empathetic – Ability to appreciate and be sensitive to the feelings of patients and co-workers.
• Initiative – Ability to make decisions and take actions to solve a problem or reach a goal. Desire to excel, attempting non-routine tasks.
• Judgment – Ability to make sound decisions using available information.
• Reliability – Can be relied upon to demonstrate reliability in attendance and punctuality.
• Team Player – The ability to work with others and independently for a common goal. Puts aside own individual needs to work toward the larger group objective and reinforces the contribution of others.
• Relevant computer skills – Able to navigate between screens and accurately enter data.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

An office environment with a controlled atmosphere. Possible exposure to staff or patients with communicable diseases and blood borne pathogens.

OTHER PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Vision (Near, Distance, Color, Peripheral, Depth Perception), normal range of hearing, ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (gloves, face mask, eye shield, gown), standing for long periods of time.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

Education: High School Graduate or General Education Degree (GED). Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline preferred.
OA1 Experience: 0-2 years of prior ophthalmic assistant experience
OAII Experience: 2+ years of prior ophthalmic assistant experience

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Accountability – Ability to accept responsibility and account for his/her actions and work performed. Willing to accept constructive feedback.
• Accuracy – Ability to perform work accurately and thoroughly with attention to all details of a project or task.
• Adaptability – Ability to adapt to and facilitate change in the workplace.
• Communication – Ability to communicate effectively with others using good listening skills.
• Empathetic – Ability to appreciate and be sensitive to the feelings of patients and co-workers.
• Initiative – Ability to make decisions and take actions to solve a problem or reach a goal. Desire to excel, attempting non-routine tasks.
• Judgment – Ability to make sound decisions using available information.
• Reliability – Can be relied upon to demonstrate reliability in attendance and punctuality.
• Team Player – The ability to work with others and independently for a common goal. Puts aside own individual needs to work toward the larger group objective and reinforces the contribution of others.
• Relevant computer skills – Able to navigate between screens and accurately enter data.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

An office environment with a controlled atmosphere. Possible exposure to staff or patients with communicable diseases and blood borne pathogens.

OTHER PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Vision (Near, Distance, Color, Peripheral, Depth Perception), normal range of hearing, ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (gloves, face mask, eye shield, gown), standing for long periods of time.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Reviews patient charts to ensure completeness and accuracy of information.
• Takes an ocular and systemic history and accurately records visual acuity.
• Performs testing required by type of exam scheduled, patient complaint and history, including but not limited to OCT, automated visual fields, photography, pachymetry, biometry.
• Performs lensometry, automated refractometry, slit lamp exam including applanation tonometry and anterior chamber angle assessment, basic muscle balance testing, assesses pupils, confrontation visual fields and gross external exam.
• Performs advanced ophthalmic procedures.
• Acts as scribe while the physician examines patients, entering data into electronic medical records or handwritten in paper charts.
• Administers topical ophthalmic or oral medications.
• Assists ensuring office procedures are adhered to and required informed consent is obtained.
• Assists with patient education.
• Oversees patient flow throughout the day.
• Maintains cleanliness and orderliness of exam rooms during the workday.
• Complies with all practice procedures and protocols. Complies with all State and Federal regulations. Understands and accepts responsibility to report potential or suspected errors to supervisor or Compliance Officer.
• Maintains a positive attitude consisting of cooperation, self-motivation, courtesy, and professionalism.