Ophthalmic Technician (Ophthalmology)

Johns Hopkins University•Odenton, MD

18h•$20 - $36•Onsite

About The Position

The Ophthalmic Technician provides technician and clinical support to physicians in a large, multi-specialty ophthalmology satellite clinic. The role involves multitasking across clinical tasks and limited administrative work, including responding to patient and physician messages, assisting with refill requests, and completing and tracking forms and prior authorizations. The Wilmer Eye Institute offers training for candidates pursuing a career in ophthalmology; the posting notes that no experience is required for its training opportunity, while the listed minimum qualifications specify one year of ophthalmic technician experience. Clinical work includes obtaining patient histories and performing ophthalmic tests, measurements, imaging, and procedures. The technician also supports in-office procedures, maintains clinical equipment and supplies, prepares instruments for sterilization, disinfects examination rooms, and follows infection-control and clinic regulations. Other duties may include participation in clinical research, teaching contact lens handling, maintaining medical knowledge, and obtaining and maintaining COA certification. Administrative and nonclinical work may include managing Epic in-basket messages, processing refill requests and prior authorizations, assisting front-desk staff with appointment triage and clinical questions, managing medications for intravitreal injections, tracking forms, and providing input on templates and schedules to support patient flow and physician efficiency. The position is full-time, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the School of Medicine campus. No evening or weekend work is required.

Requirements

High school diploma or graduation equivalent.
One year of experience as an Ophthalmic Technician; additional education may substitute for required experience to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
Obtain Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) certification from JCAHPO within 18 months of the start date.
CPR certification.

Responsibilities

Record accurate patient histories, including chief complaint, ocular history, past surgeries, medical conditions, medications, allergies, learning assessment, falls risk, and family history.
Complete Epic training.
Assess pupil response to light and check for an afferent pupillary defect.
Measure central visual fields using an Amsler Grid.
Instill eye drops under physicians’ direction.
Measure and record distance and near visual acuity.
Measure and record intraocular pressure using applanation, pneumatic, or Schiotz-type indentation tonometry.
Perform Humphrey visual field testing, OCTs, IOL Master measurements, and Pentacam measurements.
Perform refractions, color vision and depth perception testing, and screening for ocular motility disorders.
Use a slit lamp to examine the eye surface and perform special testing, including Tangent Field testing, Bright Field Acuity Testing, Potential Acuity Meter testing, and pachymetry.
Perform basic maintenance or repair of clinical equipment.
Participate in clinical research projects when applicable and compile and enter clinical study data.
Teach patients how to insert and remove contact lenses and handle them properly.
Perform ultrasound scans to measure axial eye length; recognize difficult scans and adjust equipment as needed.
Perform keratometry readings and adjust readings when necessary.
Calculate intraocular lens power using appropriate formulas, manually or by computer.
Take fundus photographs as needed and assist with in-office procedures.
Maintain exam-room supplies, check medication expiration dates, and maintain instruments and their preparation for sterilization.
Disinfect and maintain examination rooms; practice microbial-control fundamentals and maintain refrigerator logs and sharps containers.
Follow JCAHO requirements and applicable clinic regulations.
Maintain general medical knowledge of ocular anatomy and physiology, systemic and ocular diseases, and ocular emergencies.
Maintain the required COA ophthalmic technician certification.
Handle Epic in-basket messages and patient questions; process refill requests.
Complete prior authorizations for in-office procedures and medications.
Support front-desk staff by helping triage scheduled appointments, responding to patients’ clinical questions, and explaining technician-related concerns.
Manage and order medications for intravitreal injections.
Track and process form requests, including MVA, disability, and FLMA forms.
Provide input on templates and schedules to maximize patient flow and physician efficiency.
Perform other duties as assigned.