Lead Ophthalmic Assistant

Description

SUMMARY STATEMENT & PURPOSE: This position is responsible for leading assistants in daily clinic flow to improve the efficiency through communication, mentoring, training, and specific direction of duties to maintain focus in meeting the patient care objective in a timely manner.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITES:

1. Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to manage sensitive and confidential situations with tact, professionalism, and diplomacy in all interactions with patients and others.

2. Effectively communicates with physician and mentors and directs technicians in all areas of clinic operations.

3. Maintains and reviews clinic schedule daily to meet profitability goals while maintaining good throughput and workflows. Ensures appointments are scheduled appropriately. 

4. Continually assesses and manages clinic flow with the ability to direct others to minimize patient waits. Communicates wait times with patients, if longer than acceptable.

5. Documents, updates, and communicates changes in physician appointment scheduling, surgery scheduling, and clinical protocols when changes are made in a timely manner.

6. Performs patient workups and mentors technicians in the area, including but not limited to taking proper history, medication reconciliation, allergy updates, chief complaint, drop instillation, and other appropriate ophthalmic tests including but not limited to Lensometry, Confrontational Fields, Visual Acuity Testing, Refracting, Tonometry, Motility Testing, BAT, PAM, Schirmer's Test, Stereo Tests, OCT, Visual Field, and general patient education and communication. Mentors all technicians in the area to ensure that workups and special tests, such as confrontational fields, color tests, visual acuity, refracting, and all other elements of the exam are done correctly.

7. Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of EHR systems and thorough understanding of meaningful use to ensure physician meets measures, with the ability to review and mentor technicians in accurate use and documentation. This includes acting as a role model and leading the way in adopting workflow practices, including but not limited to Patient Portal sign-ups.

8.  Verifies and mentors area technicians to ensure all tasks are adequately completed and documented each day. Follows protocols and communicates with physician as appropriate to ensure good follow-through.

9. Assists physician in clinic procedures and demonstrates knowledge of sterile technique as needed.

10.  Effectively resolves patient complaints and submits timely and completes Incident Reports.

11. Functions as a scribe for physician when needed. 

12. Assists patients in completion of required forms with particular attention to detail and accuracy. 

13. Responsible for maintaining cleanliness of exam rooms after each patient, including surgical instruments and equipment, monitors medications and supplies for expiration dates, performs deep-cleaning duties on a weekly/monthly basis. 

14. Assist the physician in obtaining surgical consent and completing surgical paperwork.

15. Assists in scheduling appointments when needed.

16. Understands clinic billing and payment policies and protocols. Maintains knowledge regarding insurance plans, referral requirements, and clinic payment policy with the ability to communicate requirements to patients. 

17. Maintains knowledge regarding ophthalmological terminology and medications and participates in professional skills and business-related continuing education as required. Supports on-call physician as requested on weekends.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Six (6) months OA experience.
• Proficient in all areas of ophthalmic assisting and clinic flow. 
• Medical Assistant Registered (MA-R) from the State of Washington within 60 days of employment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, and Outlook and ability to learn other software programs as needed.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Certified Ophthalmic Assistant certification (COA) or obtain within 6 months.