Ophthalmic Technician

Ascend Vision; McAllen, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Ascend Vision is seeking an Ophthalmic Technician (Certified or Non-Certified) to support ophthalmologists in delivering high-quality patient care. You will prepare patients for exams, perform baseline testing, and assist with minor surgical and laser procedures.

The role requires handling medical records, administering eye medications, and maintaining ophthalmic instruments. A high school diploma and prior ophthalmology exposure are preferred, with COT certification considered a plus.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent is required.
• Minimum of one year experience in ophthalmology is preferred.
• Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) certification is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provides primary ophthalmic care and acts as clinical assistant to physician.
• Performs complete ophthalmic history and preliminary exams and sub-specialty tests.
• Records patient information in EMR according to standards and physician requirements.
• Checks eye conditions by observing pupils, muscle, visual acuity, and BP if requested.
• Prepares patients for examination and communicates results to attending physician.
• Maintains patient confidentiality and medical records with proper coding.
• Counsels patients on prescribed drops, contacts, drugs, and surgery details.
• Keeps work environment safe and compliant with regulations.
• Maintains and troubleshoots ophthalmic equipment and processes refills.
• Prepares sterile instruments and stock for minor procedures.

Skills

Communication

Microsoft Office

Confidentiality

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT)

Tools

EMR systems

Job description

Description

Our Mission is to deliver quality, accessible and patient-centered care.

Team members are hired to assist the organization in building a differentiated integrated eye care platform focused on superior patient care delivered through our network of optometrists and ophthalmologists. Team members are expected to a behavior of professionalism, which includes but is not limited to, acting with integrity and accountability, support our clinicians in all aspects of patient care delivery, support a culture of respect, diversity and inclusion in our organization, and enhance the patient access to primary and specialty eye care. Our vision is to create an admired healthcare company dedicated to delivering personalized eye care with outstanding patient outcomes.

GENERAL SUMMARY:

The Ophthalmic Technician (Certified or Non-Certified) performs a range of duties which includes preparing the patient for the provider (preliminary exam, medical history, & testing), preparation of examination and treatment rooms, performing basic and routine vision screening examinations, administering eye medications, cleaning and maintaining ophthalmic instruments and assisting physicians during minor surgical and laser procedures.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides primary ophthalmic care to patients and act as clinical assistant to physician.
• Performs complete ophthalmic history and preliminary exams, sub-specialty tests (refraction, VF test, A-Scan Biometry (IOL master), Pachymetry, PAM evaluation, color testing, and contact lens evaluation).
• Verifies patient information by interviewing patient, recording medical history, and confirming purpose of visit. Accurately records all information in EMR system according to established standards and physician requirements.
• Checks condition of patients' eyes by observing pupils, muscle, visual acuity, extraocular movements, and blood pressure (if requested by Physician).
• Prepares patients for ophthalmology examination by dilating pupils, changes in visual acuity, elevated extraocular pressure, or blood pressure and communicating results to Attending Physician.
• Secures patient information and maintains patient confidence by completing and safeguarding medical records, completing diagnostic and procedure coding, and keeping patient information confidential.
• Counsels patients by transmitting physician's orders, use of drops, contact lenses, drugs, and answer questions about surgery and specialty imagining required/ordered.
• Maintains safe, secure, and healthy work environment by establishing and following standards and procedures along with complying with legal regulations.
• Keeps equipment operating by following operating instructions, troubleshooting breakdowns, maintaining supplies, performing preventive maintenance, and promptly reporting equipment issues.
• Processes prescription refill requests.
• Performs set standard number of patient work-ups based on established times while maintaining quality of customer service.
• Maintains stock in exam room in accordance to standard inventory and physician preferences.
• Maintains minor procedure stock and all sterilization of instruments.
• Sets up and prep for minor procedures to include setting sterile tray and maintaining sterile field.

Requirements

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• High School diploma or equivalent, required.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE PREFERRED:

• Minimum of one (1) year experience in ophthalmology, preferred.

LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION OR REGISTRATION REQUIRED:

• N/A

LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION OR REGISTRATION PREFERRED:

• Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT)

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Ability to work effectively with internal and external customers.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including listening.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office products.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality when dealing with sensitive information.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OF POSITION:

• Talking. This position requires expressing or exchanging ideas through the spoken word. This position must participate in activities to convey detailed or essential verbal instructions to physicians, staff, and vendors accurately and succinctly.
• Hearing. This position is required to perceive sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, including the ability to receive detailed information through oral communication and make the discriminations in sound.
• Repetitive motion. This position requires substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and fingers while working on reports on the computer.
• Sedentary work. This position may need to occasionally exert up to 10 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Walking and standing are required frequently and throughout the day.
• Visual Requirements. This position is required to have close visual acuity (with or without correction) to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; and reading.
• Environmental Conditions. This position is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (such as in typical office work.)