Certified Ophthalmic Technician

• May be entitled to translation/bilingual, shift or other wage premiums as governed by the applicable collective bargaining agreement. Please refer to the respective collective bargaining agreement for additional information on such wage premiums: https://www.lmpartnership.org/local-contracts.

Job Summary:

Under direct supervision of Department Manager and guidance of physician or Optometrist, performs a wide variety of eye care duties to assist the medical providers in the examination and treatment of eye disorders, using knowledge of advanced ophthalmic techniques and procedures. Makes members/patients and their needs a primary focus of ones actions; develops and sustains productive member/patient relationships. Actively seeks information to understand member/patient circumstances, problems, expectations, and needs. Builds rapport and cooperative relationship with members/patients. Considers how actions or plans will affect members; responds quickly to meet member/patient needs and resolves problems.

Essential Responsibilities:

• This position, knows and complies with all Kaiser Permanente quality, safety, and emergency policies and procedures. Demonstrates quality and effectiveness in work habits and clinical practice in every interaction with patients, colleagues, providers, and leadership. Ensures patient safety in the preparation and provisioning of care related to but not limited to medications, procedures, infection prevention, fall prevention, including consistent use of two patient identifiers and procedural time outs. Reports safety hazards, accidents and incidents, and unsafe working conditions promptly.
• Prepares examination and treatment rooms for use by medical providers by cleaning, stocking and arranging supplies.
• Prepares examination and treatment rooms by cleaning, stocking and arranging supplies and equipment which requires bending, reaching and moderate lifting of up to approximately 45 pounds throughout the day.
• Reviews appointment schedule to determine patient visit orders; greets and escorts patient to examination or treatment room; and instructs or assists patient in preparation for scheduled procedure including communication byh telephone, email and in person. Interviews patient to obtain ocular history, family history, systemic illness, allergies and medications and appropriate documentation in electronic medical record.
• Performs basic and routine vision screening examinations as directed, recording data on standard format for interpretation by medical provider. This includes: Visual acuity - cc and sc glasses/ distance and near; Steropsis; Color testing; Tonometry - all methods of obtaining intraocular pressure. EOM; Pupil assessment; CVF; Slit Lamp examination; and Lensometry.
• Performs other technical skills as directed by provider which will include: Keratometry (manual or automatic); Retinoscopy; Refractometry (manual or automatic); Potential acuity meter; visual field; Photography (fundus, anterior segment & external); Ultrasound (A scan and B scan measurements); and the removal, cleaning and insertion of contact lenses. May perform Fluorescein Angiography (FA), Iris Angiography, ICG Fluorescein Digital imaging. Additional testing as ordered by a physician.
• Assists medical providers during minor surgical and laser and other misc.procedures by setting up necessary equipment; attending to patient during procedure; and providing appropriate supplies and instruments as directed, while strictly adhering to sterile technique.
• Cleans, packages and sterilizes reusable supplies and instruments as needed, using approved serilization methods. Cleans and maintains ophthalmic instruments (e.g. slit lamp, ophthalmoscopes, lenses, etc.), appropriately.
• Scan/upload medical documentation.
• Performs routine clerical and reception duties as directed, such as ordering supplies, scheduling appointments, completing patient filing progress sheets, completing patient visit records, maintaining departmental logs, answering phones, taking messages, checking in patients and using the electronic medical records system appropriately.
• Administers medication as ordered by provider. Prepares injectable medication as directed by a provider.
• Performs other duties as assigned, may assist in orienting and training new employees, transporting equipment and patients, and taking inventories.
• Scribes pertinent medical findings, assessment and plan, as directed by eye care provider.
• In addition to defined technical requirements, accountable for consistently demonstrating service behaviors and principles defined by the Kaiser Permanente Service Quality Credo, the KP Mission as well as specific departmental/organizational initiatives. Also accountable for consistently demonstrating the knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors necessary to provide superior and culturally sensitive service to each other, to our members, and to purchasers, contracted providers and vendors.