Patient Educator - No weekends, medical experience preferred

Eye Care Partners Career Opportunities•Norfolk, VA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Patient Educator serves as a crucial link between patients interested in surgery and the medical, technical, and administrative teams. This role involves conducting in-person or virtual screenings, providing balanced education, and offering counseling to prospective patients about surgical benefits and options. Key responsibilities include discussing costs, payment plans, and intraocular lens (ATIOL) choices. The Patient Educator may also contribute to relationship management systems by entering marketing and outcome data. Proactive patient education is a core function, initiated before appointments through various communication channels (email, phone, text) and reinforced verbally, in writing, or via video links. During office visits, the Patient Educator meets with patients after their technician examinations and before their physician consultation.

Requirements

High School diploma or GED equivalent is required
Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook
Desire to gain industry knowledge and training
Demonstrates initiative in accomplishing practice goals
Ability to grow, adapt, and accept change
Consistently creating a positive work environment by being team-oriented and patient-focused
Ability to interact with all levels of employees in a courteous, professional manner at all times
Reliable transportation that would allow employee to go to multiple work locations with minimal notice
Frequent walking (75%), sitting (50%), and standing (50%)
Regular bending, stooping, and reaching (25–50%)
Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull items up to 25 lbs
Strong fine motor skills and full use of hands are essential, as the role demands constant grasping, writing/typing, and use of technology
Visual and auditory acuity—including color, depth, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus—is required 100% of the time
Occasional driving or climbing may also be necessary

Nice To Haves

Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) or Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) preferred
Experience in financial counseling is preferred
Experience working with insurance is preferred

Responsibilities

Provides exceptional customer service during every patient encounter (in person or via phone)
Displays a professional attitude, greets patients promptly with a smile, and thanks them when they leave
Practices urgency at all times with patients’ time, as well as doctors’ time and schedule, and manages patient flow
Complies with all company policies and procedures, including HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability)
Serves as support to patients for patient education, counseling, and inquiries, including discussion of vision goals, daily activities, surgical procedures, and lens/package options
Provides ATIOL educational materials to patients through different modalities and assists with maintaining patient access to these materials
Provides explanation of lens or package pricing structure and payment/financing options with prospective patients
Serves as the liaison between patients and physicians, communicating vision goals, ATIOL interest, and relevant ocular history
Coordinates with practice staff to ensure seamless patient transfers
Facilitates prompt, professional, patient-friendly communications between patient and physician or referring physician and surgeon
Assists in the practice development of ATIOL Program by collaborating on patient incentive letters, marketing, and gathering testimonials
Compiles and generates patient data using tracking tools and/or spreadsheets
Sends practice, product and/or treatment, and financing information via email or mail to non-closed leads
Follows up with non-closed leads via phone, email, portal or mail and records progress using tracking tools and/or spreadsheets
May require other duties as assigned