Medical Assistant

Job Description:

The Medical Assistant will perform a variety of tasks to support the ophthalmic services team. Duties include:

• Using autorefractors and lensometers to perform visual field tests, visual acuity, and pinhole tests.
• Performing brightness acuity measurements as requested.
• Conducting Schimer's tests as ordered.
• Monitoring patient flow and acting as a scribe when needed.
• Informing patients about the purpose of all tests performed and how they will be affected.
• Obtaining patient history, including chief complaint, history of present illness, past history, family history, and history of allergies and medications.
• Accurately documenting and measuring tasks, such as visual acuity, manual lensometry, confrontational visual fields, stereo testing, evaluation of motility, pupillary function tests, color plates, applanation tonometry/tonopen, refractometry, angle assessment, dilation of pupils, contact lens evaluations, optic nerve scanning, pachymetry, and corneal topography.
• Providing backup to the ophthalmic photographer for fundus, exterior, and anterior segment photos.
• Performing duties consistent with an ophthalmic writer/scribe.
• Determining which patient should be taken next from the waiting room and escorting all patients from the waiting room.
• Advising patients on who will see them following testing and making patients comfortable during wait.
• Maintaining a smooth flow of patients to the physician and altering the test sequence as required.
• Providing telephone support for ocular emergencies, prescription refills, and patient care questions.
• Communicating with reception to facilitate proper patient flow.
• Reviewing Amsler grid testing with patients for at-home monitoring and reviewing physician-generated instructions with patients.
• Providing appropriate patient education materials as directed by physicians.
• Ensuring exam rooms are tidy between patients, including cleaning sinks and sanitizing equipment.
• Seeking advice from more senior staff as necessary and never performing beyond capabilities.
• Maintaining cleanliness in exam and procedure rooms.
• Maintaining backup levels of stocks in exam and procedure rooms.
• Cleaning all lenses used by doctors.
• Preparing for COA exams and completing exams after being employed by the practice for one year.
• Performing other duties as required.

Requirements:

The ideal candidate will have:

• Knowledge of medical and ophthalmic terminology.
• Advanced comprehension of ophthalmic assistant skills as outlined by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO).
• Basic understanding of optics.
• Comprehensive knowledge of principles of optics, refraction, and contact lenses.
• Ability to perform comprehensive work-ups.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Empathetic personality with concern for patients' needs.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Computer literacy.

Education and Experience:

The ideal candidate will have:

1. High school diploma or equivalent.
2. Two years experience in a healthcare setting, preferably in ophthalmology.