Ophthalmic Technician Assistant (Ophthalmology)

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 24,796 - 41,328; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University’s Wilmer Eye Institute is seeking an Ophthalmic Technician Assistant to learn ocular examination and testing and support clinical operations. Start your career with a robust training program and no prior experience required, in Bethesda with a Monday–Friday schedule and no evening or weekend work.

This role trains for a variety of career paths in eye care, from clinic management to research, while maintaining high standards of patient safety and HIPAA compliance.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Must obtain COA within 18 months of start date.
• CPR certification required.
• Education may substitute for experience per JHU guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Obtain and record patient history accurately.
• Conduct basic elements of the preliminary eye exam.
• Operate ophthalmic equipment for ancillary testing.
• Assist physician chairside as a scribe.
• Maintain examination rooms and stock supplies.
• Ensure compliance with HIPAA and institutional policies.

Skills

Ophthalmic terminology

Medical terminology

Education

High School Diploma or GED

COA certification within 18 months

Tools

EPIC

Forum

Job description

Johns Hopkins, founded in 1876, is America’s first research university and home to nine world’s leading academic divisions working together as one university.

We are seeking an Ophthalmic Technician Assistant who will learn to assist the ophthalmologist by performing ocular examination and testing and supporting clinical operations.

The Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins University has an exciting opportunity for exceptional candidates to train for a career as an Ophthalmic Technician, no experience required. Start your career in ophthalmology with one of the leading organizations in delivering state-of-the-art eye care, training future healthcare leaders, and conducting cutting-edge research. We have a robust training program that will provide you with a strong foundation to pursue a multitude of career paths beyond Ophthalmic Technician such as clinic manager, ophthalmic clinic supervisor, assistant administrator, orthoptist, optometrist, marketing, IT, and research, to name a few. This is also an opportunity for pre-med students to gain clinical experience during their gap year or prior to applying to medical school, as well. No evening or weekend work required. Learn more at https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/wilmer/education/clinical-training/ophthalmic_technician.html

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Obtain and concisely record an accurate patient history, including chief complaint, past ocular history, family history, systemic illness, medications, allergies and drug reactions, and social history.
• Perform basic elements of the preliminary eye exam, including visual acuity, color vision testing, lensometry, assessment of pupillary reactions, instillation of eye drops, tonometry, and basic slit lamp exam including evaluation of anterior chamber depth.
• Perform ancillary testing, including operation of various automated and non-automated ophthalmic equipment.
• Assist physician chairside as a scribe.

Patient Services

• Apply proper ocular dressings and shields.
• Properly assist physically or visually disabled patients.
• Assist with pre- and post-op care, including possible surgical assisting with outpatient procedures.

Clinical and Instrument Maintenance

• Perform routine instrument maintenance on all ophthalmic equipment.
• Stock examination rooms in assigned area and ensure medication expiration dates are current.
• Disinfect and maintain examination rooms.
• Possess general medical knowledge, including basic microbial control, ocular anatomy and physiology, systemic diseases, ocular diseases and ocular emergencies.
• Maintain current CPR certification.
• Must complete currently required JHMI courses, and abide by relevant regulations, such as:
  • Self-learning educational packets
  • HIPAA
  • Conflict of Interest
  • Training in software such as EPIC and Forum.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School Diploma or graduation equivalent.
• Must obtain Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) from Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO) within 18 months of start date.
• CPR certification also required.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with ophthalmic and general medical terminology.

Classified Title: Ophthalmic Technician Assistant
Role/Level/Range: ACRO40/E/02/CD
Starting Salary Range: $17.20 - $30.30 HRLY ($18.41 starting)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Location: JH at Bethesda
Department name: SOM Oph Satellites
Personnel area: School of Medicine

The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check.

During the Influenza ("the flu") season, as a condition of employment, The Johns Hopkins Institutions require all employees who provide ongoing services to patients or work in patient care or clinical care areas to have an annual influenza vaccination or possess an approved medical or religious exception. Failure to meet this requirement may result in termination of employment.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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Learn more: https://www1.eeoc.gov/employers/upload/eeoc_self_print_poster.pdf
Important legal information: http://hrnt.jhu.edu/legal.cfm