Ophthalmic Technician

General Statement of Responsibilities:

Perform preliminary eye screening and assist the Optometrist with exams. Perform contact lens fitting and other specialized tests when necessary. Assist patients in choosing eyewear as well as dispensing glasses. Assist patients in making appointments.

Detailed Job Responsibilities:

The Optometric technician is responsible for performing measurements and tests that provide the optometrists with the information needed to arrive at a diagnosis and to prescribe treatment.

Practice collegiality: be helpful, respectful, approachable and team-oriented; build strong working relationships and a positive work environment. All communications, both written and oral, with optometrist, other staff members and patients must professional and courteous.Serve and communicate effectively with students, staff and faculty from diverse backgrounds, communities, and cultures. Anticipate and address service needs and assist individuals with disabilities.

• Complete EHR tasks in a timely manner.
• Collect patient data:
  • Interview to obtain history and reason for visit
  • Obtain distance and near visual acuities with and without correction. Pinhole when necessary.
  • Obtain patient's ocular/medical family patient history, document current medications and allergies.
  • Perform keratometry, check color vision, depth perception, pachymetry, visual fields, fundus photography, tonometry, and Amsler Grid, pupils and other diagnostic tests when indicated.
  • Perform lensometry.
• Carry out optometrist standing orders according to policies, procedures, protocols and applicable regulatory guidelines.
• Copy Rx for patients.
• Perform contact lens fitting under an optometrist's supervision. Hold insertion and removal of contact lenses classes. Maintain contact lens trials, order and dispense contact lenses to patients.
• Assist in making referral appointments to other clinics. Fax records.
• Help patients order contacts. Explain contact lens prices and rebates to patients.
• Disinfect equipment and restock supplies.
• Help with scheduling appointments, arriving patients, collecting co-pays and other payments, and making follow-up appointments.
  • Direct patients to patient accounting office for registration and insurance verification when they are not a pre-registered student paying student service fees.
  • Verify demographic information and register changes or new information on the patient account.
  • Review and edit insurance information at check-in.
  • Make copies of insurance cards on new patients or when insurance coverage has changed.
  • Obtain general release for insurance claim processing.
  • Obtain HIPAA acknowledgment at the time of check-in. Have the patient sign the medical release to consultants forms.
• Notify patients if their appointment needs to be cancelled or rescheduled by the clinic in a timely manner.
• Record transactions in the patient's account at the time of collection.
• Balance cash drawer each day and reconcile the credit card machine with co-workers.
• Deliver all documents and payments to the cashier's office each day.
• Edit past pending appointments.
• Assist patients in choosing eyewear, verify lenses from lab, dispense glasses to patients.
• Call patients when glasses are ready for pick-up and return calls to patients who have questions.
• Observe established principles of confidentiality and compliance.
• Maintain current knowledge/awareness of Boynton Health policies and procedures.
• Maintain familiarity and compliance with applicable OSHA, MERTKA, BBP, HIPAA guidelines.
• Practice collegiality: be helpful, respectful, approachable and team-oriented; build strong working relationships and a positive work environment.
• Attend and participate in Boynton Health Staff Meetings.
• Serve and communicate effectively with students, staff and faculty from diverse backgrounds, communities, and cultures in a professional and courteous manner.
• Recognize and respond to emergencies and unplanned situations.
• Document communication with patients.
• Transfer phone calls to correct departments: i.e., optical, contacts, PWB, main Boynton.
• Call patients monthly to remind them to pick up contact lens/optical orders.
• Disinfect and maintain clean equipment/work area.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Two years of college education plus graduation from an accredited program as an ophthalmic technician with certification issued by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel. An equivalent combination of education and related clinical experience totaling at least four years should provide the necessary background for this position.
• Demonstrated commitment to promoting a culture that respects and advances diversity and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

About Boynton Health

Boynton.umn.edu

Boynton Health's mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of University of Minnesota students and the campus community. Our vision is to ensure that the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is the healthiest campus in the nation.

Pay Range: 29.80-31.57 hourly depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment, hours are 7:50am-4:20pm Monday-Friday. Overtime and consecutive Sunday work are not conditions of employment.

Position Type: Civil-Service & Non-Faculty Labor Represented Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu.

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.