Ophthalmic Assistant- Dr. Saltzmann- SouthPark and Belmont

We're looking for an Ophthalmic Assistant to work alongside one of our Cataract Specialists, Dr. Saltzmann, as he sees patients at our SouthPark and Belmont offices.

This is a full-time position working Mondays-Fridays. Hours are subject to variation based upon clinic needs.

Learn more about Dr. Saltzmann here.

Primary Objective:

The Ophthalmic Assistant provides clinical and administrative support to the Provider to collaboratively ensure the delivery of high quality, compassionate care to CEENTA’s patients.

Essential Job Functions:

The essential functions for the position include:

• Greet and room patients
• Obtain and document past medical and surgical histories, chief complaint, history of present illness (HPI), and vital signs
• Reconcile and document patient medications and allergies in the EHR system
• Perform preliminary ophthalmic work-up, including Visual Assessment, Confrontational Visual Field Testing, Pupil Assessment, Tonometry, Keratometry, Ocular Motility Testing, Glare Testing, Refractometry, Pachymetry, Lensometry, Slit Lamp Examination, Ishihara (Color) Plate Testing, Stereo Testing, Amsler Grid, Schirmer Testing
• Assist the Provider with patient examination, treatment, and in-office procedures as needed
• Prepare and administer medications as directed by the Provider
• Prepare and/or collect laboratory specimens
• Act as a scribe as needed by the Provider
• Explain treatment procedures and provide approved educational information to patients and their families
• Respond to patient questions and prescription refill requests via phone or the EHR messaging system
• Manage Provider schedule(s) in the EHR system, which includes scheduling patients for appointments, and in-office procedures
• Schedule patient surgeries
• Maintain applicable workqueues in the EHR system
• Index lab reports, procedure and office notes, and outside documentation pertinent to patient care from the document management system to the EHR system
• Perform clinical room turnover/set-up and equipment sterilization
• Maintain OSHA standards to ensure a sterilized and safe environment
• Maintain stock of office and clinical supplies and order from appropriate vendor when needed
• The ability to work on-site
• Predictable, reliable and prompt attendance

Core Competencies:

Clinical Knowledge – Possesses the appropriate clinical knowledge to provide safe and high-quality care to patients within the applicable scope of practice. This includes accurately recording and communicating patient information to all relevant members of the clinical team.

Patient Focus – Making patients and their needs a primary focus of one’s actions; developing and sustaining productive patient relationships.

Building Patient Loyalty – Effectively meeting patient needs; building productive patient relationships; taking responsibility for patient satisfaction and loyalty.

Communication – Clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand and retain the message.

Energy – Consistently maintaining high levels of activity or productivity; sustaining long working hours when necessary; operating with vigor, effectiveness, and determination over extended periods of time.

Attention to Detail – Accomplishing tasks by considering all areas involved, no matter how small; showing concern for all aspects of the job; accurately checking processes and tasks; being watchful over a period of time.

Accountability:

Our mission is to be the premier eye, ear, nose, and throat group providing comprehensive, quality, and ethical healthcare to all in the Carolinas; to provide a favorable environment for the delivery of healthcare; and to provide for the wellbeing of the physicians and the employees of Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates, P.A.

The Ophthalmic Assistant directly impacts CEENTA’s ability to achieve its mission as they play an integral role in patient care delivery, providing administrative and clinical support to the Providers.

Supervision:

The Ophthalmic Assistant reports to the Operations Manager, as well as the Operations Supervisor and/or Office Coordinator when applicable, with clinical oversight from the Provider.

Work Environment:

The Ophthalmic Assistant functions in a multi-specialty clinic with high patient volume. This role may be exposed to contagious or infectious diseases, and therefore, may be required to wear personal protective equipment at times. This position routinely uses standard medical office equipment as well as standard medical diagnostic equipment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical and Mental Demands:

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Physical Demands:

• Frequently required to stand; walk; sit in front of a computer; type; perform repetitive mouse clicks; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms to assist patients and/or providers/staff
• Occasionally assists with moving or positioning wheel-chair bound patients, clinical equipment, and office supplies up to 300 pounds

Mental Demands:

• Ability to multi-task
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to make quick decisions
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced environment
• Ability to use discretion and sensitivity

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full-time position working Mondays-Fridays. Hours are subject to variation based upon clinic needs.

Education and Experience:

One to three years’ experience as an ophthalmic assistant and a high school diploma or equivalent required.

Ocular plastic experience preferred. 

Graduate of an International Council of Accreditation (ICA) accredited clinical training program OR completion of an International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (IJCAHPO) or American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) independent study course preferred.

Current Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) or Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) certification from the IJCAHPO preferred.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications:

Current BLS certification from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross required.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. In addition to those essential job functions identified above in Section II, individuals in this position are also responsible for performing other duties or tasks that may be assigned. CEENTA retains the discretion to add to or change the essential job functions of this position at any time without notice.

Training:

The training period for this position will be between 30-90 days, depending on previous experience. There will be extensive Epic training as well as training on the equipment used in our clinics.

A Typical Day in the Position:

A typical day for the Ophthalmic Assistant involves collaborating with and providing clinical and administrative support to the Provider to ensure the delivery of high quality, compassionate patient care. The Ophthalmic Assistant greets patients with a warm, welcoming smile as they escort them to the exam room. They obtain and document past medical and surgical histories, chief complaint, history of present illness (HPI), and vital signs and reconcile patient medications and allergies in the EHR system. The Ophthalmic Assistant completes the preliminary portion of the exam including drop instillation, visual assessment, confrontational visual field testing, pupil assessment, tonometry, glare testing, refractometry, pachymetry, and lensometry, slit lamp examination, Ishihara (color) plate testing, stereo testing, Amsler Grid, Schirmer testing. They assist the Provider with patient examinations, treatments, and in-office procedures, cleaning and sterilizing rooms and equipment after each encounter. They perform an array of administrative duties, which include ordering supplies, stocking rooms, scheduling appointments, surgeries, and in-office procedures, responding to patient messages and prescription refill requests, indexing faxes and other documents, and monitoring workqueues in the EHR system.