Orthoptist

Job Profile Summary 

​This role focuses on providing medical and clinical support services to patients.  In addition, this role focuses on performing the following Ophthalmology duties: Performs, prescribes, and analyzes results for the treatment of illnesses, diseases, injuries, and conditions that are related to the eye. Tasks include vision assessments, eye surgeries and advanced forms of eye disease in patients with significant systemic illness.  A professional individual contributor role that may direct the work of other lower level professionals or manage processes and programs.  The majority of time is spent overseeing the design, implementation or delivery of processes, programs and policies using specialized knowledge and skills typically acquired through advanced education.   A specialist level role that is a recognized subject matter expert in job area typically obtained through advanced education and work experience.  Typically manages large projects or processes with limited oversight from manager, coaches, reviews and delegates work to lower level professionals, resolving difficult and often complex problems. 

Job Overview 

This position is responsible for evaluating and recommending treatment of patients with ocular motility disturbances. Assists Ophthalmologist in all aspects of patient care including diagnostic testing and preliminary examination. 

Job Description 

Minimum Qualifications: 

1. High school diploma or equivalent. 

2. Completion of a two-year Orthoptist or Ophthalmic Medical Technician program. 

3. Orthoptist OR Ophthalmic Medical Technician Certification. 

4. Two (2) years of experience as an Orthoptist including teaching experience. 

Duties and Responsibilities: The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of work and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list.  Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned. 

1. Evaluates patients with ocular motility disturbance, determines appropriate method of treatment and reports recommendations to referring ophthalmologist who may be either from the department or private practice.  

2. Makes diagnostic choices while evaluating patients in order to determine method and procedure of continued examination for best results. 

3. Provides ocular motility and/or vision treatment when recommended treatment is approved by Ophthalmologist.  

4. Organizes and participates in vision and ocular motility screening.  

5. Conducts periodic ocular motility conferences for residents of Ophthalmology.  

6. Documents ocular motility disturbances by taking external motility photographs. 

7. Maintains and dispenses press-on-prism and lens inventory. 

8. Reviews and updates orthoptic library's books and journals.  

9. Presents at local and national ophthalmology conferences.  

10. Orders all pediatric pharmacological supplies.  

11. Orders all clinical supplies for pediatric ophthalmology. 

12. Assists in Strabismus surgery.  

13. Responsible for updating pediatric code cart.  

14. Conducts a teaching program for technical employees of New England Eye Center to teach ophthalmic technology skills. 

15. Prepares students for national certifying exams. 

Physical Requirements:  

1. Requires moving heavy medical equipment. 

2. Close contact with patients, with some exposure to blood and hypodermic needles. 

3. Frequently assists visually impaired patients from wheelchairs into exam chairs. 

4. Regularly escort patients to other floors within the department as needed. 

5. Requires prolonged standing, walking, bending, stooping, and stretching. 

Skills & Abilities: 

1. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology of eyes and common diseases. 

2. Ability to use and maintenance of orthoptic instruments, visual field instruments and general ophthalmic instruments. 

3. Teaching skills necessary to assist in the training of orthoptic/ophthalmic technician students. 

4. Analytical skills necessary to determine method of patient evaluation in order to recommend treatment. 

5. Interpersonal skills needed to interact with pediatric and adult patients and referring ophthalmologists.  

6. Ability to assess the needs of adult and pediatric patient populations in order to provide care appropriately. 

7. Ability to effectively explain the exam process to patients and attempt to allay their concerns and apprehensions. 

8. High attention to detail. 

9. Ability to work in a high-volume clinic and fast paced environment.  

10. Knowledge of sterile technique.