Ophthalmic Assistant - Cambridge
Job Profile Summary
This role focuses on providing medical and clinical support services to patients. In addition, this role focuses on performing the following Ophthalmology duties: Performs, prescribes, and analyzes results for the treatment of illnesses, diseases, injuries, and conditions that are related to the eye. Tasks include vision assessments, eye surgeries and advanced forms of eye disease in patients with significant systemic illness. A clinical technologist role that has specialized knowledge or skills gained through a combination of vocational education, training, and experience. This role will be most commonly applied to patient care and/or scientific/laboratory jobs. An entry-level role typically requiring little to no prior knowledge or experience and requiring vocational or technical education. Work is routine or follows standard procedures, is closely supervised, and communicates information that requires little explanation or interpretation.
Job Overview
This position assists in the process of working up patients by performing a variety of ophthalmic technical support services.
Job Description
Minimum Qualifications:
1. High school diploma or equivalent.
2. Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification OR Obtain within three (3) months of hire.
3. Valid Driver’s license and reliable transportation.
Preferred Qualifications:
1. Associate’s Degree.
2. Completion of JCAHPO home study course or formal ophthalmic medical personnel training.
3. Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA).
4. One (1) year experience in an ophthalmic practice.
5. Bilingual.
Duties and Responsibilities: The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of work and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.
1. Prepares patients for the physician’s evaluation by obtaining history, chief complaint, document medications and pertinent questions and necessary information.
2. Performs various screening tasks including visual acuity, auto lensometry, auto refraction/keratometry, Ishihara plates, Amsler grid, stereo tests, confrontation visual fields, D-15 color tests, and corneal topography.
3. Performs various diagnostic tests as determined necessary through patient assessment; pupil and anterior chamber depth evaluation, Tono pen tonometry, confrontational and Humphrey visual fields, and corneal topography.
4. Instills diagnostic eye drops as directed by the physician to evaluate level of pressure in the eye and to dilate pupils.
5. Prepares patient consent forms for in-office procedures.
6. Performs basic instrument maintenance (i.e. bulb replacement, battery changes, etc.), and ensures that all equipment and lights are working properly.
7. Performs instrument maintenance (i.e. bulb replacement, battery changes, calibration, etc.) and ensures that all equipment and lights are working properly.
8. Set up exam rooms by ensuring that they are clean, organized, stocked with necessary medications, supplies, instruments, forms, and patient education materials.
9. Cleans and sterilizes surgical instruments and keeps logs up to date.
10. Maintains refrigerator logs up to date.
11. Complies with all local, state and federal regulations and laws governing the performance of this position within the Ophthalmology department.
12. Complies with all OSHA standards, including but not limited to handwashing.
Physical Requirements:
1. Requires moving heavy medical equipment.
2. Close contact with patients, with some exposure to blood and hypodermic needles.
3. Frequently assists visually impaired patients from wheelchairs into exam chairs.
4. Requires prolonged standing, walking, bending, stooping, and stretching.
Skills & Abilities:
1. Some knowledge of eye terminology and anatomy and physiology of the eye.
2. Knowledge of or aptitude for biological sciences.
3. Excellent interpersonal skills necessary to work effectively with patients and understand their needs and be responsive to elderly and sensory handicapped.
4. Ability to work closely and effectively with physicians and other clinical staff, including residents, fellows, attending physicians, and nurses.
5. Excellent communication skills effectively explaining the exam process to patients and attempting to allay their concerns and apprehensions.
6. Strong attention to detail.
7. Ability to work in fast-paced, high-volume clinics.
At Tufts Medicine, we want every individual to feel valued for the skills and experience they bring. Our compensation philosophy is designed to offer fair, competitive pay that attracts, retains, and motivates highly talented individuals, while rewarding the important work you do every day.
The base pay ranges reflect the minimum qualifications for the role. Individual offers are determined using a comprehensive approach that considers relevant experience, certifications, education, skills, and internal equity to ensure compensation is fair, consistent, and aligned with our business goals.
Beyond base pay, Tufts Medicine provides a comprehensive Total Rewards package that supports your health, financial security, and career growth—one of the many ways we invest in you so you can thrive both at work and outside of it.
Pay Range:
$18.81 - $23.51