Optometry Assistant Jobs in Huntington, IN (NOW HIRING)

OPTOMETRY TECH   

At Neighborhood Health, we’re passionate about our mission to provide a kind and caring premiere workforce. Our team-based approach to comprehensive patient care creates a challenging and rewarding work environment where you have a direct role in helping members of our community receive quality medical services they can afford. And that’s something you can feel good about.  

As a member of our growing team, you will feel at home in a fun and diverse community of healthcare professionals. Our goal is simple: improving access to healthcare in our community and surrounding areas. Together, we are all committed to building healthier communities by delivering comprehensive, quality health care with compassion and respect. 

As an Optometry Tech, you will provide professional and friendly customer service at both the front desk and in the clinical area. Assist the Provider during patient examination, testing, treatment, and patient education. You will work with patients in the optical area with ordering, dispensing and fitting glasses. Maintain patient confidentiality and ensure compliance with HIPAA policies and procedures.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Works in conjunction with Optometrist to promote a “team effort”.
• Maintains a positive work environment that supports high team morale.
• Schedule appointments according to clinic policy and provider notes, including walk-in patients, requests over the phone, and optometry incoming/outgoing referrals. Enters appointment into online scheduling system appropriately.
• Screen phone calls, consults with provider/staff as appropriate, and documents in patient’s chart any action taken. Triages phone calls for any ocular concerns and arranges for patients to be seen as needed.
• Prior to patient’s scheduled appointment, ensures all necessary prep work is complete. Runs patient’s insurance for eligibility and completes any necessary authorizations. Confirms appointment with patient and discusses any insurance eligibility concerns, as needed.
• Obtains and enters new patient demographics and updates patient information, as necessary, in the EHR to maintain accuracy.
• Researches, enters, and updates all information needed to complete Billing process.  This involves verifying income for self-pay patients, verifying insurance and Medicaid coverage, and verifying eligibility to various programs that affect the Billing process. 
• Collects all co-pays, balances, and pre-payments as required by office policies. Distributes copies of receipts to patients. Understands and can apply payments to balances. 
• Balances charges and receipts at end of each shift.  
• Works with the NH billing department to resolve billing concerns or patient questions about billing.
• Measures and records any current prescription glasses.
• Assists in the optical with frame selection, frame measurements, ordering glasses, dispensing glasses, and making minor frame repairs and adjustments.
• Places orders for glasses from the supplier.
• Receives glasses from lab, verifies that the lenses are correct, and the lens and frame are in good condition. Notifies the patient that glasses are available for pick up.
• Review supplier invoices for any mistakes.
• Sends material waivers to Billing for coding purposes.
• Maintains and reviews patient electronic medical records; Charts pertinent health information, including medical history, past ocular history, family ocular history, and medications.  Documents patient’s chief complaint.  Ensures provider notes and signatures are documented for all orders, consultations, and exams.
• Completes initial patient testing including auto refraction, NCT, and visual field screener.
• Performs any necessary special testing including visual fields and fundus photography.
• Assists patients with selection and dispensing of frames and lenses.
• Responds promptly to customer needs and questions.  Requests assistance when necessary.  Works to resolve difficult customer situations. 
• Opens and closes Optometry office according to established procedures.
• Opens and closes exam rooms and ensures exam rooms are clean and well-stocked with necessary supplies and materials. 
• Operates and sanitizes all equipment in a safe and proper manner.
• Collects and prepares the biohazard material for removal.  Sterilizes instruments as assigned.  Performs daily controls on equipment and maintains records/logs in accordance with regulations and protocol.  Works with suppliers to arrange maintenance on all equipment. 
• Consults with other clinic disciplines to assure that patient’s health, nutritional, and environmental/social needs are addressed.  Refers, as appropriate, to other health care providers, clinic disciplines, and community resources.
• Helps train team members in a manner that builds and sustains a high-performance team.
• Attends and participates in meetings and in-services as required. Participates in professional development activities. Serves on committees as requested.  
• Assist in other Clinical Assistant I related departments when clinic is closed as requested. 
• Performs duties in accordance with NH Standards of Conduct and Mission Statement.
• Performs related work as required and other duties (similar physical requirements and OSHA risk level) as assigned.  

REQUIRED SKILLS / ABILITIES 

• Clinical-demonstrates a working knowledge and skill in the optometry process (assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation); maintains knowledge of, and acts in accordance with, current NH policies and procedures.  
• Problem solving—identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner and gathers and analyzes information skillfully.  
• Interpersonal skills—maintains confidentiality, remains open to others’ ideas and exhibits willingness to try new things; maintains friendly and supportive relationships with coworkers; talks through problems to keep channels of communication open and maintain a high level of trust; realizes the importance of, and practices, good customer service; and able to communicate effectively and build collaborative, supportive relationships with people of varying cultures, socio-economic backgrounds, languages, and educational levels. 
• Oral communication—speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations, demonstrates group presentation skills.  
• Written communication—edits work for spelling and grammar, presents numerical data effectively and is able to read and interpret written information. 
• Planning/organizing—prioritizes and plans work activities, uses time efficiently.  
• Quality control—understands the importance of compliance standards and pays close attention to accuracy and detail when performing duties; demonstrates a working knowledge of how grant impact the day-to-day operations of NH. 
• Adaptability—adapts to changes in the work environment, manages competing demands and is able to deal with frequent change, delays or unexpected events. 
• Dependability—consistently at work and on time, follows instructions, responds to management direction, and solicits feedback to improve performance. 
• Safety and security—actively promotes and personally observes safety and security procedures and uses equipment and materials properly. 
• Information Technology/Medical Equipment – proficient in the use of computer and other medical equipment/instruments to administer patient care and accurately retrieve/record patient data.  

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

Education / Training 

High School Diploma or GED. Training in optometry procedures preferred. 

Experience 

Minimum of one year of work experience in a medical, dental, optometry, public health, or social service agency. Experience working in an optometry office or optical preferred. Additional appropriate education may be substituted for one year of work experience.  

Physical Requirements 

Prolonged standing and walking, some stooping, bending, sitting and stretching. Requires full range of body motion, manual dexterity, and eye-hand coordination sufficient to handle and assist patients. Requires ability to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 lbs. Requires corrected vision and hearing to normal range to record, prepare, and communicate appropriate reports. Requires ability to work under stressful conditions. Requires exposure to communicable diseases and bodily fluids.  

Work Environment 

Normal medical office environment. Work may involve irregular hours, including evenings or weekends. Involves frequent contact with other staff, physicians’ offices, patients, and the public. Contact may involve dealing with sick, angry, or upset people. Work may be stressful at times. Frequent exposure to communicable diseases, toxic substances, medicinal preparations, and other conditions common to a clinic environment. OSHA Category I – Tasks involve contact with blood or body substances.  

Neighborhood Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Neighborhood Health does not exclude people or treat them differently for any aspect of the organization because of race, color, national origin, age, disability (physical or mental), or sex (including sexual orientation). 

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on this site as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by contacting Human Resources.