Certified Ophthalmic Assistant

DEPARTMENT: TIFT OPHTHALMOLOGY

F ACILITY: Ophthalmology

WORK TYPE: Full Time

S HIFT: Daytime

HOURS:

SUMMARY:

The Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) prepares the patient for the exam by taking measurements and performing standard test. The COA must gather patient information and ensure that medical records are up to date. The COA will assist with procedures and procedure preparations; including preparing the procedure room, conducting pre-surgery exams, monitoring patient pain levels, and providing patient education regarding medications and surgery. The COA is responsible for delivering quality care to patients, observing and documenting patient responses to care, providing guidance and assistance to all office staff, the caliber of patient care performed by them self, providing customer service to patients, patients' families, visitors, physicians, coworkers, and other medical and non-medical persons.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

* Assures the timely assessment of the health status and need of patients.
* Completes all documentation in a timely manner.
* Completes ophthalmic interventions and physician’s orders in a timely manner.
* Accurately interprets, requests, and transcribes orders for medications, treatments, procedures, lab work, and other diagnostic procedures and consultants.
* Correctly and accurately performs visual acuity, refractometry and tonometry measurements.
* Correctly and accurately obtains corneal thickness and corneal curvature measurements.
* Correctly and accurately performs corneal topography, retinal thickness, and topography.
* Correctly and accurately performs retinal never fiber layer measurement.
* Correctly and accurately performs A and B scan ultrasonography.
* Assists with contact lens fitting and patient instructions.
* Prepares for and assist with in-office procedures.
* Correctly and accurately takes ocular measurement (both anatomical and functional).
* Correctly administers and prepares medications.
* Assists the Ophthalmologist in basic procedures.
* Keeps abreast of pertinent federal, and state regulations and laws and Tift Regional Health System, Inc. (“TRHS”) policies as they presently exist and as they change or are modified.
* Understands and adheres to: TRHS’ compliance standards as they appear in TRHS’s Corporate Compliance Policy, Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy; and HIPAA and TRHS policies regarding privacy and security of protected health information.
* Demonstrates the ability to perform tasks that meet the age-specific requirements of the persons, patients, vendors, and staff that the employee is charged to interact with as required by the position.
* Offers suggestions on ways to improve operations of department and reduce costs.
* Attends all mandatory education programs.
* Improves self-knowledge through voluntarily attending continuing education/certification classes.
* Maintains required competency levels as identified in written exams, skills checklists, skills labs, annual safety and health requirements as well as service excellence education hours requirements.
* Cross-trains in order to better assist co-workers and to provide maximum efficiency in the department.
* Volunteers/participates on hospital committees, functions, and department projects.
* Manages resources effectively.
* Reports equipment in need of repair in order to extend life of equipment and removes malfunctioning equipment out of service with timely reporting to the appropriate personnel.
* Makes good use of time so as to not create needless overtime.

EDUCATION:

* High School Diploma

or

*GED

CREDENTIALS:

* Certified Ophthalmic Assistant

OTHER INFORMATION:

Current valid Ophthalmology Assistant certification is required.

Southwell/Tift Regional Health System, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.