Certified Ophthalmic Assistant - PRN

Under direct supervision, assists the Ophthalmologist in caring for the eye patient by providing important and preliminary information on the patient's medical condition that is obtained through a variety of visual acuity and ocular motility tests and through ophthalmic photography. Maintains equipment to ensure valid and reliable results.

Education:
Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) preferred (must complete COA certification within one year of hire)
HS or GED

Experience:

1-2 Years' Experience in clinical ophthalmic setting (COA may be substituted for years of experience)

Licensures/Certifications:
Current CPR certification.
Certification as Ophthalmic Assistant from the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO) preferred.

Physical Requirements

Continuous attention to detail and ability to make continual fine sensory discrimination up to 80% of work time.

Working Conditions:

Exposure to certain distasteful patient care activities and communicable diseases in moderate.

Skills:
1-2 Years’ Experience in clinical ophthalmic setting (COA may be substituted for years of experience)
Skills:
• Basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology, systemic diseases, ocular diseases, ocular emergencies.
• Basic knowledge of ophthalmic instrumentation; knowledge and performance of techniques to measure the patient's visual acuity and ocular motility and to administer eye drops, ointments, etc.
• Basic knowledge of oral medications and invasive techniques.
• Skill in data analysis and interpretation.
• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Ability to file and retrieve records.

Principles Duties and Responsibilities:
• Assists the Ophthalmologist in diagnostic, therapeutic and corrective procedures. Generates important and preliminary information for use by the Ophthalmologist and provides basic and routine patient care activities.

• Performs a variety of basic clinical tests on patients such as visual acuity tests, color vision testing, lensometry, exophthalmometry, Amsler Grid, Schirmer's Tests, evaluation of pupil, tonometry, keratometry, retinoscopy, and refractometry.
• Provides basic patient care such as administering eye drops, ointments, and irrigating solutions to the eye.
• Maintains accurate and complete records of all tests performed, preliminary transfer and analysis of data and recovery of charts for review. Informs the ophthalmologist of any adverse test results that may need immediate medical attention.

• Ensures exam rooms are setup and ready for use at beginning of day. Closes exam rooms at the end of the day.

• Inputs patient information (i.e. name, age, diagnosis) into database. Perform various clerical duties including filing and retrieving patient, handling telephone messages, and the like.

• Recognizes errors or equipment malfunctions. Calibrates, makes necessary adjustments, cleans and maintains equipment (i.e. acuity projectors, ophthalmoscopes, retinoscopes, lensometers, perimeters, slit lamps, phoropters) used to insure accurate and reliable results.