Ophthalmic Assistant-Certified

Kaiser Permanente; Olympia, Northern (WA, KY); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Kaiser Permanente in Olympia, WA seeks a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant to support examinations, diagnostics, and treatments. You will help with vision testing, instrument use, and patient prep, while maintaining clinic efficiency and patient safety.

This role collaborates with providers, staff, and departments to ensure high-quality care. The COA will document histories and orders in the EMR, assist with sterile procedures, and participate in training to meet KP standards.

Qualifications

• WA MA certificate or RMA within 2 months of hire.
• COA/COT/COMT certification from IOAHP preferred at hire.
• BLS certification within 2 months of hire.
• Experience with ophthalmic instruments and patient testing.
• Strong customer service and ability to work in a managed practice.

Responsibilities

• Assists with ophthalmic testing such as acuity, tonometry, and refractions.
• Prepares rooms, maintains sterile technique, and supports procedures.
• Records patient histories and ophthalmic data in the EMR.
• Scribes provider notes and ensures accurate documentation.
• Supports with instrument calibration and clinic equipment upkeep.
• Responds to patient calls and coordinates care with teams.

Skills

Ophthalmic testing

Patient communication

Clinical safety

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Medical Assistant Certificate (Washington)

Registered Medical Assistant (Washington)

Certified Ophthalmic Assistant

Certified Ophthalmic Technician

Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist

Basic Life Support (BLS)

Tools

Auto-refractor

Auto-lensometer

Non-contact tonometer

Titmus vision tester

Snellen chart

Visual acuity projector

Visual field testing equipment

Job description

Job Summary

Under the direct supervision of the Department Manager and guidance of the provider, the Certified Ophthalmic Assistant performs a wide variety of clinical and technical duties to support the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of eye conditions. Using knowledge of advanced ophthalmic techniques and procedures, this role assists medical providers in delivering high-quality care, performing essential diagnostic testing, and ensuring smooth and efficient clinic operations. The Certified Ophthalmic Assistant makes patients and their needs a primary focus by actively seeking to understand their circumstances, concerns, and expectations, building rapport, and maintaining productive, supportive relationships. The position collaborates closely with providers and clinical staff to facilitate seamless patient visits and contribute to excellent clinical outcomes, while consistently demonstrating responsiveness, professionalism, and a strong commitment to patient centered care.

Essential Responsibilities

• The Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) complies with all Kaiser Permanente quality, safety, infection-prevention, emergency, and confidentiality policies. This position demonstrates professionalism, safety awareness, and effective clinical practice in every interaction while ensuring patient safety through correct medication handling, infection control, equipment use, fall-prevention practices, consistent use of two patient identifiers, and adherence to procedural time-outs. All safety hazards, incidents, and unsafe conditions are reported promptly.
• The COA prepares examination and treatment rooms by cleaning, stocking, and arranging equipment and supplies, requiring regular bending, reaching, and lifting up to 45 pounds. The assistant reviews the daily appointment schedule to determine patient flow, greets and escorts patients to examination rooms, and provides instructions or assistance as patients prepare for scheduled procedures. The COA obtains and documents comprehensive ocular and systemic histories, family histories, allergies, medications, and relevant clinical information in the electronic medical record.
• Clinical duties include performing vision screening and fundamental ophthalmic tests such as distance and near visual acuity (with and without correction), stereopsis, color testing, extraocular motility, pupil evaluations, confrontation visual fields, tonometry using all approved methods, slit-lamp assistance, and manual and automatic lensometry. Additional technical responsibilities performed under provider direction include manual and automatic keratometry, retinoscopy, refractometry, Potential Acuity Meter testing, visual field testing, fundus and anterior segment photography, external photography, A-scan and B-scan ultrasonography, and the removal, cleaning, and insertion of contact lenses. Advanced imaging is performed as ordered and may include OCT, Optos imaging, Pentacam, Fluorescein Angiography, ICG angiography, IOL Master biometry, Goldmann Visual Fields, and diabetic retinal photography. Ophthalmic medications, including drops and ointments, are administered only as ordered by the provider. The COA also assists with therapeutic procedures such as foreign body removal.
• The COA provides scribing support by accurately recording provider-dictated assessments, findings, treatment plans, orders, and patient instructions in the electronic medical record, while also scanning, uploading, and maintaining clinical documentation in compliance with KP standards. The assistant supports minor surgical, laser, and other ophthalmic procedures by preparing sterile and clean equipment, setting up procedure trays, attending to patient needs during procedures, and maintaining strict sterile technique throughout.
• Equipment and supply responsibilities include cleaning, maintaining, and calibrating ophthalmic instruments such as slit lamps, lenses, ophthalmoscopes, and diagnostic devices; packaging and sterilizing reusable instruments using approved methods; arranging for repairs or recalibrations as needed; and ensuring all supplies, instruments, and medications are properly stocked, sterile, and readily available. The assistant also ensures examination and treatment rooms are maintained in a clean, orderly, and functional condition.
• Patient communication duties include receiving, triaging, and responding to patient calls, messages, and clinical inquiries within scope. The COA provides clear instructions regarding medications, diagnostic procedures, and follow up care, and collaborates with ophthalmology, optometry, optical services, pharmacy, family medicine, and other Kaiser Permanente departments to ensure coordinated patient care. Patient concerns are addressed directly when appropriate or routed to the proper personnel or department.
• Administrative responsibilities include scheduling appointments, answering phones, checking in patients, documenting visits, maintaining departmental logs, ordering supplies, completing medical documentation scans, and transporting patients or equipment as needed. The COA uses the electronic medical record accurately and efficiently for all documentation and workflow needs.
• The COA completes all required Kaiser Permanente training, including competency validations, and required reading. Patient care tasks performed during training occur under direct supervision, and competency check offs must be successfully completed for skills including visual acuity, tonometry, lensometry, ocular history intake, medication and allergy documentation, blood pressure measurement, appointment scheduling, and message management. The COA may assist with orienting and training newly hired staff. Throughout all responsibilities, the COA consistently demonstrates the service behaviors outlined in the Kaiser Permanente Service Quality Credo and Mission, providing culturally responsive, inclusive, and respectful service to patients, colleagues, and contracted partners.
• Other duties may be assigned to support departmental and organizational needs.

Basic Qualifications

Experience

• N/A

Education

• High School Diploma OR General Education Development (GED) required.

License, Certification, Registration

• Medical Assistant Certificate (Washington) within 2 months of hire OR Registered Medical Assistant (Washington) within 2 months of hire

• Certified Ophthalmic Assistant required at hire from International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology OR Certified Ophthalmic Technician required at hire from International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology OR Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist required at hire from International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology

• Basic Life Support within 2 months of hire

Additional Requirements

• Demonstrated experience and competence with ophthalmic instruments, including: auto-refractor, auto-lensometer, non-contact tonometer, Titmus vision tester, Snellen chart, visual acuity projector, and visual field testing equipment.
• Demonstrated proficiency in use of instruments and equipment for preliminary testing, ancillary testing and in the application of eye-drops.
• Demonstrated customer service skills, customer focus abilities and the ability to understand Kaiser Permanente customer needs.
• Ability to function effectively in a professional environment within a managed practice organization. Familiarity with optometric and optical terminology.
• Familiarity with optometric instruments and equipment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with contact lens patients and products.
• Experience working in an ophthalmology or optometry practice.
• Graduate of an accredited medical assistant, ophthalmic assistant, or allied health professional program.
• Position prefers six (6)months to one (1) year of previous experience as a Certified Opthalmic Assistant.