Visual Assistant Jobs in Meriden, CT (NOW HIRING)

Works directly with patients, parents and doctors and strives for 100% patient satisfaction and positive outcomes in all cases.  An Ophthalmic Assistant is the first clinician to service the patient prior to seeing the physician.  Responsible for testing eye function of the patients in preparation for the appointment with the practicing physician.  Directs the flow of activities throughout the patient's visit.  Ability to remain calm under pressure and ability to calm others during stressful situations, especially young children.  The Ophthalmic Assistant will work within the scope of practice guidelines of the American Ophthalmology Association and the Connecticut Department of Public Health.

Experience:  Minimum of 6 months of experience as on Ophthalmic Assistant is preferred at time of hire.

License / Certification / Registration:

• Certification for Ophthalmic Assistant required from an accredited organization such as the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO) is preferred at time of hire, or must be acquired within 12 months. 
• CPR (BLS) preferred at time of hire, or must be acquired within 1 month.

Knowledge

Knowledge of managed care, commercial and federal agencies or basic understanding of general medical terminology as well as CPT and ICD9/10 codes.  Technical experience, including proficiency with internet based research or any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. 

Knowledge of Diagnostic Equipment utilized within the department to include but are not limited to: 

• Lensometer- check glasses
• Phoropter- check vision/refraction
• Icare & tonopen- check eye pressure
• Fundus camera- fundus photos
• Visual Field machine- visual field
• RETeval machine - electroretinography 
• Pentacam machine - evaluation of anterior segment using tomography (corneal topography and optical tomography)
• Accutome machine - Biometry/US
• TOPCON Aladdin - Optical biometry and topography
• TOPCON OCT - fundus photography, fluorescein angiography (with physician supervision), SCODI-P and SCODI-A
• Optos 

Skills

• Will adhere to CT Children's Medical Center culture and respect for patients and peers.
• Treats patients, parents, doctors and staff with respect and places personal judgments aside
• Takes pride in work
• Provides a positive environment with both patients and staff
• Exhibits patience with children.  Takes extra time with patients.
• Ability to use software applications including but not limited to Medical Billing/or medical office Scheduling Software Applications, Microsoft Office Applications, including Excel and proficient with internet. 
• Interpersonal skills - maintains confidentiality, HIPAA adherence, remains open to others ideas and exhibits willingness to try new things.  Works collaboratively withy all employees, staff members, patients and outside contacts as needed.
• Oral Communication - speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations via telephone or in person
• Written Communication - Clear and effective written communications.   Edits work for spelling and grammar.
• Quality control - demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness and monitors own work to ensure quality
• Adaptability - is flexible with work load and adapts to changes in the work environment. Manages competing demands and is able to deal with frequent change, delays or unexpected events
• Dependability - adheres to CT Children's Medical Center time and attendance policies and procedures.  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.
• Knowledge of Medical office administration procedures and ability to operate most standard office equipment (to be defined by the department.)
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• Obtaining chief complaint, HPI, past medical/surgical history, family history, social history, medications & allergies

• Testing eye functions, looking for abnormalities within patient's eyes with basic penlight exam. 

• In most cases, the testing includes distance/near vision, depth perception, color and peripheral vision, strabismus screening, IOP with tonopen or iCare, check present correction and clean glasses, verify that glasses match written prescription, confrontational fields, amplitudes on patients with CI symptoms, near convergence, check pupils, measuring strabismus etc.

• Dilating pupils using appropriate drops and give patient education on eye drop side effects

• Auto-refract and refract 

• Managing patient flow 

• Coordinating sterilization of instruments with central sterilization, calibrating and maintain optical instruments per CT Children's Medical Center equipment sterilization guidelines and procedures

• Triage walk-in patients, emergency patients and determine if the patient needs to be seen the same day and which doctor should see the patient  

• Maintaining clean waiting rooms and clinical areas, re-stock handouts, medical supplies, etc.

• Responsible for patient calls/messages. Document all patient communication in the EMR

• Take calls and delegate any medical advice for the patient to the patient's physician

• Answer phones, schedule appointments, cover front desk

• Send out medical records, prescriptions, dictation

• Follows proper opening and closing exam room procedures