Optometric Assistant

PLEASE NOTE - This position may require temporarily relocation to other TONHC Facilities: Sells Hospital, Santa Rosa Health Center, San Simon Health Center, and San Xavier Health Center.

Position Summary:

This position performs a full range of health technician and optical support work for the Optometry staff of the Tohono O'odham Nation Sells Hospital.

Scope of Work:

This position is located within the Tohono O'odham Nation Sells Hospital Optometry Branch and may be organizationally assigned to any one of the Health Center locations. This position may require 50% travel to any of the four (4) TONHC Facilities. The incumbent works under the general supervision of the Chief Optometrist who makes assignments by defining objectives, priorities, and deadlines, and assists the employee with unusual situations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: (Depending on the area of assignment, an incumbent may not be required to perform some of the duties listed below):

• Manages technical and administrative optical activities of the Optometry clinic.
• Answers the telephone and refers calls to personnel. Answers general questions about the optometry program, e.g. hours of the clinic, procedures for making appointments.
• Greets incoming patients and has patient complete information forms for registration.
• Completes registration with insurance verification and demographics.
• Creates schedules in computer, schedules patient appointments and checks patients in and out of clinic.
• Assists with patient transportation arrangements as needed.
• Coordinates referrals for the Eye Clinic Providers.
• Interviews patients and records health history.
• Performs frame measurements, ensuring optimum cosmetic, physical, and optical spectacle performance. Repairs most damaged and/or broken frames. Performs basic optical bench work. Maintains frames on a current basis in accordance with applicable contracts.
• Prepares prescriptions and lab orders for glasses. Verifies spectacle prescriptions utilizing lensometer, lens gauge, and other instruments prior to dispensing glasses to patients.
• Provides technical assistance to Optometrists and Ophthalmologists as requested.
• Performs various preliminary eye evaluations including but limited to visual acuity, Non-Contact Tonometer and Icare Tonometer, as requested by the eye care provider.
• Performs ancillary tests such as visual field, Optical Coherence Tomography, Retinal Photos, etc., as requested by the eye care provider.
• Informs patients about contact lens procedures, care and hygiene, optical and ocular disease conditions, and other relevant instructions.
• Follow Human Resources policies on EEO related matters.
• Orders optical supplies and instruments.
• Contributes to a team effort.
• Performs other job related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the Tohono O'odham culture, customs, and traditions.
• Ability to provide appropriate customer service.
• Knowledge of current standard optometric lens and frame characteristics, measurement methods and instruments, and materials in order to select the most appropriate size and type of frame and lens for optimum visual performance.
• Skill in utilizing a variety of tools and repair techniques to accomplish spectacle repairs.
• Knowledge of optical prescription methods and measurement techniques in order to verify and duplicate current prescriptions.
• Knowledge of a variety of optometric instruments and measurement methods such as vision screening instruments, visual acuity measurement methods, visual field testing instruments, and non-contact tonometry.
• Basic knowledge of a variety of optical conditions such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, presbyopia, cataracts, etc., in order to educate patients.
• Thorough knowledge of the Privacy Act of 1974 which mandates the incumbent to maintain confidentiality of all administrative, medical, and personnel records.
• Knowledge of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Public Law 104-191 (HIPAA).

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must have a High School Diploma or General Education Diploma, and
• One year combination of Optical Dispensing experience and front/back optometric office experience.

Licenses, Certifications, Special Requirements:

• Must possess or acquire a Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification within three months of hire.
• Upon recommendation for hire, a criminal background and a National FBI fingerprint check are required to determine suitability for employment, including a 39-month driving record.
• May require possessing and maintaining a valid driver's license (no DUIs or major traffic citations within the last three years).
• If required, must meet the Tohono O'odham Nation tribal employer's insurance requirements to receive a driver's permit to operate program vehicles.
• Based on the department's needs, incumbents may be required to demonstrate fluency in both the Tohono O'odham language and English as a condition of employment.