Ophthalmic Assistant Certified

SSM Health; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

SSM Health in Saint Louis is seeking an Ophthalmic Assistant to support eye care visits, perform vision testing, and educate patients. You’ll work with ophthalmologists and the care team to deliver a smooth clinic experience and high-quality eye care.

Day shift, Monday-Friday; no nights, weekends, holidays or on-call. Requires a High School diploma or GED and at least one year of health care experience; BLS HCP within 90 days; COA certification may be required depending on department.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED or 10 years of work experience.
• One year health care experience.
• BLS HCP certification within 90 days of employment.
• Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) certification may be required.

Responsibilities

• Assist eye care providers in the exam and treatment of patients.
• Document patient chief complaint, history, ocular findings and pertinent data.
• Perform testing such as visual acuity, color vision, keratometry, tonometry, and other procedures as requested.
• May act as a scribe documenting history, exam, diagnoses, orders, and follow up; provide patient education.
• Assist with minor surgery procedures and laser treatments; maintain instruments.

Education

High School diploma/GED

Job description

It's more than a career, it's a calling

MO-SSM Health Ambulatory Care Center CSM

Worker Type:

Regular

Job Highlights:

Join a team where your work matters-every moment, every patient, every community. At SSM Health, you’ll be empowered to grow, supported to thrive, and inspired to make a lasting impact.

As an Ophthalmic Assistant, you will work closely with ophthalmologists and the care team to support patient visits, perform vision testing and diagnostic procedures, educate patients, and help ensure a smooth and efficient clinic experience. Your attention to detail and commitment to exceptional patient care will play a key role in delivering high-quality eye care services. These positions may be filled by a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant.

Department:

Ophthalmology - Saint Louis Eye Clinic

Schedule:

Day shift, Monday-Friday, no nights, weekends, holidays or on-call requirements. You may be required to travel to other STL Metro Area clinics.

Job Summary:

Participates in the care and treatment of eye care patients utilizing skills unique to optometry and ophthalmology. Demonstrates accountability to patients, peers and other health team members through positive customer relations and effective communication. Cares for children and adult patients of all ages.

Job Responsibilities and Requirements:

Primary Responsibilities

• Assists eye care providers in the exam and treatment of patients.
• Initiates documentation of the patient’s chief complaint, history of present illness, review of systems, and all pertinent ocular findings.
• May perform testing to include visual acuity measurement, color vision testing, lensometry, keratometry, testing pupil function, tonometry, automated perimetry, evaluation of EOMs (Extra-Ocular Muscle), confrontation visual field testing, and other patient services as requested by the provider.
• May act as a scribe by documenting (on behalf of the provider) all clinically relevant interaction and dialogue during the course of the patient visit. This will include: documenting history and exam, entering diagnoses, orders (medications, labs, imaging, consults, etc.), E&M (Evaluation & Management), follow up and patient instructions. Provides patient education under direction of eye care provider.
• Assists with minor surgery procedures and laser treatments in the office, including application and removal of dressings as directed.
• Inventories and maintains surgical instruments in accordance with system and department standards.
• Completes requests for prescription refills as authorized by provider with full documentation in patient chart.
• Screens patients and calls for emergency/urgent situations; obtains pertinent information for provider.
• Works in a constant state of alertness and safe manner.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION

• High School diploma/GED or 10 years of work experience.

Experience

• One year health care experience.

Physical Requirements

• Constant standing and walking.
• Frequent use of hearing and speech to share information through oral communication.
• Frequent use of hearing to distinguish body sounds and/or hear alarms, malfunctioning machinery, etc.
• Frequent lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 0-25 lbs.
• Frequent reaching, gripping, and keyboard use/data entry.
• Frequent use of vision for distances near (20 inches or less) and far (20 feet or more) and to identify and distinguish colors.
• Occasional bending, stooping, crawling, kneeling, sitting, squatting and repetitive foot/leg and hand/arm movements.
• Occasional use of vision to judge distances and spatial relationships.
• Occasional lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 25-50 lbs.Occasional lifting/moving patients.
• Occasional use of smell to detect/recognize odors.
• Occasional driving.

Required Professional License And/Or Certifications

Resuscitation Certification Requirement: Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider (BLS HCP) required within 90 day of employment. Other resuscitation certifications may be required dependent on department.

State of Work Location: Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Wisconsin

• Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) - Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO)

Work Shift:

Day Shift (United States of America)

Job Type:

Employee

Department:

4846210235 SLUCR OPH CSM GL

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

SSM Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. SSM Health provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.