Optometry Assistant (OA)

United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley•Fresno, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

United Health Centers is recruiting Optometry Assistants to work in a health center alongside an Optometrist. The role provides direct support for patient care and clinic operations, including helping maintain patient flow, collecting and recording information, and keeping exam rooms, equipment, and ophthalmic supplies orderly. The assistant also supports patients in the optical area with eyeglass or contact-lens fitting, ordering, and dispensing as directed by the Optometrist. The position involves communicating with a diverse patient population, providing basic patient education, and helping patients and clinicians obtain the information they need. Candidates should be able to work collaboratively, communicate consistently with staff, and work flexible or extended hours when necessary and requested. Experienced Medical Assistants and new Medical Assistant graduates are welcome to apply.

Requirements

High school graduate or GED.
Valid driver's license.
Valid lifesaving certification, such as CPR or BLS.
Able to build and maintain rapport with patients and providers from differing backgrounds and work as a team player.
Customer-service oriented.
Strong computer skills; familiarity with modern office practices and procedures, including email, and intermediate computer skills.
Familiarity with adult learning and general training techniques.
Positive professional insight, flexibility, and dependability.
Demonstrated problem-solving skills and sound judgment.
Effective leadership and supervisory skills.
Attention to detail and excellent follow-through on work tasks.
Able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
Able to lift up to 20 pounds and push up to 50 pounds on wheels.
Able to hear staff on the phone and people served in person, and speak clearly to communicate information to patients and staff.
Able to read memos, computer screens, personnel forms, and clinical and administrative documents.
High manual dexterity; able to reach above shoulder level and bend, squat, sit, stand, stoop, crouch, reach, kneel, and twist or turn.

Nice To Haves

Minimum one year of recent experience in a healthcare setting.
Optometric Assistant certification or one year of recent prior experience in optometry or ophthalmology.
Bilingual English/Spanish.

Responsibilities

Work with the Director of Optometry Operations and clinic management team to provide prompt medical support, promote smooth patient flow, accurately collect and record data, and maintain exam rooms, equipment, and ophthalmic supplies.
Interview patients and obtain chief complaints, ocular histories, and medical histories.
Perform auto refraction, automated tonometry, lensometry, and ancillary ocular tests as directed by the Optometrist, including color vision tests, depth perception, visual fields, and retinal photos.
Document findings in the ophthalmic template in the EHR.
Assist patients in the optical area with fitting, ordering, and dispensing eyeglasses or contact lenses as directed by the Optometrist.
Maintain optical boards by restocking glasses and accounting for them in the electronic program.
Provide or facilitate information needed by patients and clinicians.
Provide basic education and information to patients, answer questions, and help alleviate anxieties.
Interface with community-oriented activities and staff.
Support the organizational mission of providing health care access to community members and helping patients and families get needed care.
Communicate consistently and openly with the supervisor and staff.
Work flexible or extended hours when necessary and requested.
Participate in health center in-services and meetings, listening to and respecting others' ideas.
Abide by patient-information confidentiality rules.