Ophthalmic Technician- AZ- Eye Institute

Summary

The Ophthalmic Technician supports the contact lens service within the Eye Institute by maintaining and supporting the contact lens service inventory, verifying lens measurements and prescriptions, assisting with patient education, and ensuring the smooth coordination of contact lens operations. This role plays a key part in maintaining accurate records, processing orders, and scheduling patients for contact lens appointments. The position works closely with the faculty, residents, students, and other clinical staff to ensure efficient service delivery and excellent patient experiences.

The Ophthalmic Technician will also assist ophthalmology providers with procedures and other clinical operations, including serving as support for refractive surgery as well as patient imaging and diagnostic testing.

This individual should demonstrate interest in service, scholarly activity, and/or teaching within the field of eye care. This individual should possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with faculty, residents, staff, students, and patients in a dynamic teaching environment. Strong organizational skills and a commitment to providing outstanding service to the public are essential.

This position reports to the Clinic Lead – Contact Lens of the Eye Institute.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversee contact lens operations, responsible for maintaining accurate inventory levels, order processing, warranty tracking, parameter and order verification, and maintenance and ordering of supplies such as solutions, contact lens kits, and sterilization of contact lenses and contact lens paraphernalia.
• Assist with patient scheduling, including scheduling for existing patients and assuring that contact lenses have arrived in time for patient appointments.
• Oversee and supervise students during contact lens application and removal training sessions, ensuring proper technique, safety, and adherence to clinical protocols.
• Support doctors, residents, and students in the delivery of patient care, including imaging, insertion and removal training, and patient education on proper contact lens hygiene and care, etc.
• Assist ophthalmology providers with technical support during refractive surgeries.
• Maintain the optometry student contact lens program by ensuring compliance with assignment guidelines, ordering student lenses, and notifying students when lenses arrive.
• Track patient orders in the optical management system.
• Collaborate with the finance department to verify that all contact lens fittings and product payments are billed and collected prior to ordering as well as assist with processing returns.
• Facilitate the ordering and sending of prosthetic eyes and contact lenses.
• Replenish and organize contact lens supplies and paper forms in and out of exam lanes to ensure a smooth and efficient patient care experience.
• Oversee the contact lens rebates and notify doctors and staff regarding rebates. 
• Prepare and process invoices and credits for contact lens statements on a monthly basis to ensure accurate and efficient billing.
• Update contact lens pricing in the optical management system.
• Ensure that all electronic medical records under their responsibility are accurately completed and closed by the end of each clinical day.
• Assist with patient imaging and diagnostic testing.
• Assist with refractive surgery procedures, including preoperative preparation, surgical support, and postoperative patient care, in accordance with training.
• Achieve and maintain proficiency in the use of electronic health record and optical management systems.
• Perform administrative support duties e.g. typing, filing, organizing, and maintaining files and records, copying, answering telephone calls, and directing patients.
• Collaborate effectively with faculty, residents, staff, and students as needed.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with patients and independently assist patients when in scope of knowledge.
• Adhere to established professional standards of care and clinical protocols including assuring the Eye Institute is meeting all regulatory and compliance standards.
• Assist in identifying operational challenges and recommend solutions to support Eye Institute faculty, staff, and students.
• Maintain effective and open communication within the clinical team.
• Foster a welcoming and inclusive environment that promotes teamwork, collegiality, and positive morale among colleagues, staff, and students.
• Participate in departmental meetings.
• Participate in University and Eye Institute outreach activities.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Must be able to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner.  Must have regular, predictable, in-person attendance. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience                                            

High school diploma or GED equivalent required, with a minimum of three 3 years of ophthalmic or contact lens–related experience or Associate degree with 2-4 years of experience required.  National Contact Lens Examiners Certification (NCLE) preferred.

Experience overseeing contact lens operations, including maintaining inventory, order processing, parameter verification, and use of electronic health record and optical management systems—is highly desirable. Demonstrated ability to support patient care, assist with clinical procedures, provide patient education, and collaborate effectively with providers, students, and staff in a fast-paced clinical environment.

Must be detail-oriented with excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong organizational abilities, and the capacity to work well under pressure while managing multiple priorities and maintaining compliance with clinical protocols and professional standards.

Computer Skills                                           

Computer proficiency in Electronic Health Records, Optical Management Systems, EPIC, MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook), and MS 365 (OneDrive, Teams). 

Language Skills                                           

Intermediate skills: Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization. 

Reasoning Ability                                                    

Intermediate skills: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Mathematical Ability

Intermediate skills: Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interests, commissions and proportions, percentages, area, circumference and volume.  Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, stand, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, talk and hear.  The employee must regularly reach with hands and arms.  The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, taste and smell.  The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee must have the ability to tolerate repeated routine tasks. 

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Midwestern University is a private, not-for-profit organization that provides graduate and post-graduate education in the health sciences. The University has two campuses, one in Downers Grove, Illinois and the other in Glendale, Arizona. More than 6,000 full-time students are enrolled in graduate programs in osteopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nurse anesthesia, cardiovascular perfusion, podiatry, optometry, clinical psychology, speech language pathology, biomedical sciences and veterinary medicine. Over 500 full-time faculty members and 400 staff members are dedicated to the education and development of our students in an environment that encourages learning, respect for all members of the health care team, service, interdisciplinary scholarly activity, and personal growth.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance plans as well as life insurance, short/long term disability and pet insurance.  We offer flexible spending accounts including healthcare reimbursement and child/dependent care account.  We offer a work life balance with competitive time off package including paid holiday’s, sick/flex days, personal days and vacation days.  We offer a 403(b) retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, child care subsidy reimbursement program, identity theft protection and an employee assistance program.  Wellness is important to us and we offer a wellness facility on-site with a fully equipped fitness facility. 

Midwestern University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that does not discriminate against an employee or applicant based upon race; color; religion; creed; national origin or ancestry; ethnicity; sex (including pregnancy); gender (including gender expressions, gender identity; and sexual orientation); marital status; age; disability; citizenship; past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services; genetic information; or any other protected class, in accord with all federal, state and local laws and regulations. Midwestern University complies with the Smoke-Free Arizona Act (A.R.S. 36-601.01) and the Smoke Free Illinois Act (410 ILCS 82/).  Midwestern University complies with the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003 and Arizona Equal Pay Acts.