Optometric Assistant

SEARHC; Sitka (AK); On-site; USD 71,635,000 - 91,431,000; Full time

Job summary

SEARHC in Sitka, Alaska is seeking an Optometry Assistant to support eye care services for patients of all ages. You will perform optical and point‑of‑care lab tasks, screen patients, and assist the optometrist with orders, measurements, dispensing, and frame selection.

This is a career ladder role with progressive responsibilities, requiring strong customer service, attention to detail, and timely documentation.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• BLS certification at hire or within 3 months.
• Certified Paraoptometric (CPO) certification required.
• Dispensing Optician Apprentice registration within 3 months of hire.
• Clinical Competency within 3 months of hire and every three years.

Responsibilities

• Screen patients and prepare them for providers.
• Perform optical duties and point‑of‑care lab testing.
• Assist with optical orders, frame selection, measurements, and dispensing.
• Manage inventory, invoices, and payments.
• Obtain and enter ocular images and maintain medical records.
• Provide administrative support including scheduling and triage.

Skills

Customer service

Time management

Organization

Verbal communication

Written communication

Multi-tasking

Learn quickly

Education

High School Diploma or GED

BLS at hire or within 3 months

CPO certification

Dispensing Optician Apprentice registration

Clinical Competency within 3 months

Job description

Pay Range:$25.00 - $31.88This position supports eye care services to patients of all ages. This position requires/develops skills as an optometry assistant including optical and imaging duties through on-the-job and self-training modules. Customer service, attention to detail, clear communication and timely documentation are essential for this position.

This is a career ladder position with four levels designed to provide progressively more technical and independent work experiences. Promotion between job levels is based on performance, skill acquisition, required certifications, and the demonstrated ability to successfully handle duties requiring progressively more responsibility.

SEARHC

is a non-profit health consortium which serves the health interests of the residents of Southeast Alaska. We see our employees as our strongest assets. It is our priority to further their development and our organization by aiding in their professional advancement.

Working at SEARHC is more than a job, it’s a fulfilling career. We offer generous benefits, including retirement, paid time off, paid parental leave, health insurance, dental, and vision benefits, life insurance and long and short-term disability, and more.

Key Essential Functions and Accountabilities of the Job (as skills acquire)

Optometry Assistant

• Room and screen patients for the providers, perform optical and point of care lab testing.
• Accurately
• document
• in a timely manner
• .
• Optical
• Assist
• patients with optical orders: optical benefits verification, frame selection, measurements, order entry, payment collection, order verification, dispensing (glasses and contacts) in-person or by mail, adjustments,
• repairs,
• and warranty replacements.
• Assist
• with inventory management: ordering, cleaning, returns and frame placement.
• Assist
• with approval and reconciliation of invoices for
• timely
• payment.
• Imaging
• Acquires
• ocular imaging: photos, ocular coherence tomography, visual fields, topography.
• Enters images into medical record for provider review.
• Administrative Support
• Assist
• with triage, tracking and scheduling of referred, recalled or diabetic patients.
• Assist
• with phones, directing/answering patient questions and paperwork.
• Work with Referral Care Coordinators, providers and/or clinics to
• facilitate
• patient referrals.
• Order and
• maintain
• office and medical supplies.
• Other Functions
• Always
• maintain
• patient confidentiality.
• Work collaboratively to meet the needs of the patients and organizational goals.
• Other duties as assigned.

Additional Details

Education , Certifications, and Licenses Required

• High School Diploma or GED
• BLS at hire or must acquire
• within
• 3 months of hire.
• Certified Par
• ao
• ptometric
• C
• ertification
• (CPO)
• from the American Optometric Association
• .
• Register as
• Dispensing Optician Apprentice within 3 months of hire.
• Clinical Competency required within 3 months of hire
• and every three years

Experience Required

• 2 years of Medical Assistant or CN
• A
• experience can exchange for
• CPO. CPO
• required
• within a year of hire
• .

Knowledge of

• medical and ophthalmic terminology.
• Knowledge and
• demonstrated
• use of customer service principles.
• Knowledge and
• demonstrated
• use of safety and infection control principles
• .

Skills in

• Customer service, time management and organization.
• Computer use with a high degree of accuracy and detail orientation
• .
• Verbal and written communication.
• Ability to
• Ability to multi-task and work independently in fast paced environment.
• Ability to
• learn and
• maintain
• optometr
• y
• assistant competencies.
• Ability to problem-solve and use conflict resolution skills to develop and
• maintain
• good working relations with other staff and departments.

Other Qualifications

• Fine detail manual dexterity
• with precision for
• eyeglass repairs.

Travel Required

• Required to
• accompany
• optometrist on field trips,
• 3-
• 6
• weeks
• /year.

Position Information

• Work Shift:OT 8/40
• If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!