What are the responsibilities and job description for the Front Office - Optometry position at Suncoast Community Health Centers, Inc.?
POSITION TITLE: OPTOMETRY TECHNICIAN
FLSA: NON-EXEMPT
Duties/Responsibilities
FLSA: NON-EXEMPT
Duties/Responsibilities
- Welcome and register patients in a courteous, professional, and efficient manner.
- Schedule, confirm, and manage appointments for providers, including handling cancellations and reschedules.
- Verify patient insurance eligibility and assist with claims, referrals, and pre-authorizations.
- Collect co-pays and payments, ensuring accurate application to patient accounts.
- Maintain patient records in compliance with HIPAA regulations.
- Answer phone calls, schedule appointments, and direct inquiries to the appropriate team members.
- Address patient concerns, complaints, and inquiries with professionalism and efficiency.
- Prepare patients for examinations, including performing pre-tests such as visual acuity tests, pupil assessment, and lensometry.
- Operate and maintain specialized optometric equipment, such as auto-refractors, tonometers, and retinal imaging devices, conducting tests like visual field exams and OCT imaging to assess eye health.
- Assist with fitting and training for contact lens wearers and coordinate follow-up appointments to ensure continuity of care.
- Ensure testing equipment is properly calibrated, sanitized, and functioning correctly.
- Provide financial counseling to patients, explaining insurance coverage, sliding fees, and payment options.
- Scan, organize, and label documents, including medical histories, registration forms, insurance cards, paystubs, and treatment plans.
- Ensure compliance with SCHC money handling policies, collecting and applying payments accurately.
- Manage the scheduling for all patients and walk-ins, following up on missed or no-show appointments.
- Keep patients and visitors informed of wait times.
- Answer calls professionally, record accurate messages, and respond promptly.
- Follow up on missed appointments and accommodate same-day requests when possible.
- Submit insurance claims, referrals, and pre-authorizations as needed.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and welcoming front office and waiting area.
- Process and file insurance and billing documents with attention to detail.
- Assist with administrative tasks such as sorting mail and preparing reports.
- Coordinate with the office team to ensure smooth patient flow.
- Support optometrists during clinical procedures and assist with additional tasks as required.
- Participate in team meetings and training sessions to enhance skills and performance.
- Perform additional tasks as needed to support the centers.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate.
- Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment.
- Must be able to effectively manage workflow and maintain high-quality standards in environments where staffing levels may be below ideal, demonstrating the ability to prioritize tasks and collaborate with the team under pressure.
- Ability to perform precise manipulations through the regular use of office equipment, including computers, copy machines, fax machines, telephones, calculators, and more.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, software, EMR or related software.
- High School Diploma or equivalent is required.
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
- Must be able to travel to various center locations as required.
