Optician Apprentice (NL)

Columbia Basin Health Association•Pasco, WA

5d•$20 - $24

About The Position

The Optician is responsible for assisting patients with ophthalmic eyeglass and contact lens prescriptions. The Optician Apprentice salary range is $20.04-$23.55 DOE with the ability to go higher for highly experienced candidates. The role involves filling prescriptions, consulting with patients on their lens needs, recommending specific lenses, coatings, and frames, and assisting with frame selection. Key tasks include taking precise measurements, preparing work orders, verifying lens specifications, adjusting eyeglasses, and instructing clients on use and care. The role also includes selling contact lenses, assisting with insertion/removal, and repairing frames and lenses. Inventory management, sales transactions, payment processing, and generating reports are also part of the responsibilities. Additionally, the role involves reviewing patient reports, scheduling appointments, training co-workers, providing front desk support, verifying insurance eligibility, and answering phone calls. Technical tasks include inputting prescriptions into systems, cutting and polishing lenses, and assembling them into frames. The position also promotes a positive work culture and adherence to clinic policies.

Requirements

Possesses basic level of mathematical knowledge typically acquired through completion of a high school program.
Ability to obtain knowledge of contact lens fitting and eyeglass ordering, adjustment, and repair.
Ability to obtain knowledge of eye care appointment types and scheduling.
Working knowledge of computer terminals, computer software, calculator and telephone.
Ability to prepare basic correspondence and simple reports in Microsoft Word or Excel.
Ability to work on projects in a group setting and individually.
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from clients and the general public.
Proficiency in speaking, reading, and translating both English and Spanish.
Ability to resolve and document clinical issues, complaints, and unexpected incidents.
Ability to communicate clearly with vendors, manufactures, and insurance companies.

Responsibilities

Fills prescriptions for patients based on eye care consultation.
Consults with patients to determine a patient’s current lens prescription.
Recommends specific lenses, lens coatings, and frames for patients.
Assists patients with frame selection.
Measures a patient’s bridge and eye size, temple length, seg. height, pupillary distance, and optical centers of eyes according to Optometry Association guidelines.
Prepares work orders and instructions for lenses and eyeglass production.
Verifies finished lenses match to specifications.
Adjusts eyeglasses by heating, bending, and shaping plastic or metal frames.
Instructs clients in adapting to, wearing, and caring for eyeglasses.
Sells contact lenses. Assists patient in insertion and removal of contact lens classes
Repairs damaged frames, lens edges and coatings.
Selects and orders frames for display and maintain proper inventory counts monthly
Computes amount of sale and collects payment for services. Enter V-code on hardware purchases to bill to insurance and/or self-pay patients.
Collect and post payments onto systems and balance cash till at end of day according to Cash Handling Protocols.
Generate weekly reports including order status, inventory, pending invoices, and lenses sold.
Review patient reports daily and calling to schedule patients overdue for an appointment to ensure a full schedule for the providers.
Assists and provides instructions and training to co-workers in the department.
Provide front desk support when needed, registering patient information using two (2) patient identifiers at check-in and schedule recall visits at departure.
Verify patient insurance eligibility and routine/hardware benefits for every insured patient prior to being seen.
Answer incoming phone calls regarding scheduling and general eye care information according to CBHA scheduling protocols.
Input prescription into the blocker and edger systems, select correct lens blank through online protal; block, cut, and polish lenses.
Assembly and mounting of lenses into frames.
Other duties as assigned.
Promotes a positive work culture and upholds clinic policies and procedures, including the WE CARE standards of Behavior.