The Ophthalmic Service Specialist II provides specialized technical ophthalmic and administrative assistance for the USC Roski Eye Institute multi-specialty group practice. Obtains medical histories from patients with standard and rare medical disorders. Patient-care duties include recording patient ocular history, obtaining visual acuity, autorefractometry, lensometry, tonometry, pupillary defect evaluation, confrontational field testing, administration of eyedrops for pupil dilation with topical anesthesia, and assisting with minor procedures. Assists with administrative duties including patient follow up calls, prescription refills, clinic preparation, file preparation, appointment scheduling, submission of billing, insurance verification, sending dictations and insurance verification. Daily interactions with supervisor and doctors, as well as periodic meetings with ambulatory services manager. Incumbents are expected to work with minimal supervision; periodic and regular progress checks are performed to evaluate and adjust workload accordingly.

Essential Duties

• Clinical Duties Accurately document, record, and update detailed patient ocular and medical history, and all other medical information as requested by provider, in electronic and/or paper medical record. Perform all necessary tests for providers to adequately diagnose patients including recording patient's ocular history, obtaining visual acuity, autorefractometry, refractometry under provider supervision, lensometry, tonometry, visual fields, ocular motility testing, and optical coherence tomography. Administration of eyedrops for pupil dilation and topical anesthesia, under provider supervision. Provide assistance to physicians during minor surgical procedures (intravitreal injections and laser treatments) by setting up instruments and medications, responding to physician needs during procedure and prepare instruments after procedure for reprocessing. Process patient requests for medication refills including contacting pharmacies to order prescription refills. Determine the need for physician review of prescription refills. Be willing to be trained and use newer technologies such as microperimetry or experimental equipment that poses minimal risk to patients (training will be provided). Assist and educate patients on how to take their medications. Handle daily schedule to assure that patients are seen at proper intervals. Maintain equipment and supplies for patient examination rooms. This includes dating topical medications and removing expired materials. Properly clean/disinfect instruments and equipment routinely. Prepare the necessary supplies for diagnostic testing, exams, and procedures. Provide basic maintenance of all clinic equipment. Ensure instruments and devices are clean, fully functional, and sterilized if necessary. Ensure rooms are stocked daily with medications and ophthalmic supplies, place orders as necessary and appropriate. Consult with physician concerning test results and alert physician to positive test results or test abnormalities. Report patient concerns, symptoms, reactions, and changes to licensed clinic personnel. Serve as liaison between the medical staff and patients to answer questions, coordinate patient care, and/or provide patient education. Monitor and track work requests. Perform all tasks in a safe manner in compliance with organizational safety policies and according to applicable regulations; maintain a neat workstation and environment. Provide excellent customer service. Maintain confidentiality of all records and information related to patients, physicians, employees, the University and in related interests. Obtain, document and update in appropriate system(s) all necessary patient information. Follows up on diagnostic testing (radiology reports, culture results, pathology results, lab work) ordered by the ophthalmologist for their review. Develops and implements service specific operational protocols that promote service efficiency and teamwork with other services. Assist in the orientation of technical staff, residents, and fellows who rotate through the service. Provide technical services where needed, including but not limited to Roski Eye Los Angeles, Arcadia, and Pasadena clinic locations.
• General Administrative Duties Triage patient issues to achieve timely resolution. Respond to requests by doctors and staff during clinic. Follow up calls to patients, checking on status after procedures, appointment verifications or reschedules. Assist with daily monitoring of physician's daily clinic schedule Assist with file preparation, inputting appropriate forms in charts, insurance verifications and approvals. Maintain clinic/patient flow, balancing diagnostic testing requirements, patient appointment times, and non-appointment activities. Coordinate service requests with appropriate vendors and USC IT teams. Assist ophthalmic technical services supervisor and/or ambulatory services manager with design and implementation of educational programs, which support professional growth and staff development. Assist with pharmaceutical inventory and logs; identify variances. Always maintain and protect patient confidentiality. Support and participate in department huddles and team meetings. Demonstrate KNOWN service standards.
• Perform other duties or projects, as assigned, or requested.

Required Qualifications:

• Req Associate's degree Degree in a related field
• Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education.
• Req 2 years Minimum two to three years' experience serving as an ophthalmic technician in a high-volume setting.
• Req Knowledge of ophthalmic medical terminology, anatomy, physiology of the visual systems and specialized equipment and instruments.
• Req Skilled in acquiring accurate medical history, measuring, and recording visual acuity, and tonometry.
• Req Ability to work with Microsoft Word & Excel software.
• Req Ability to type with speed and accuracy.
• Req Ability to write concisely and clearly, edit, and proofread to ensure grammatically correct and factual correspondence.
• Req Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Req Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Req Ability to prioritize activities with varying time sensitivities.
• Req Ability to analyze clinical and administrative information and determine appropriate course(s) of action to resolve conflicts and discrepancies.
• Req Pleasant, caring, and compassionate personality.
• Req Ability to interact effectively with patients, staff, and physicians.
• Req Knowledge of the operations and maintenance of patient-related testing equipment.
• Req Responsible and detailed-oriented.
• Req Ability to learn state of the art diagnostic equipment.
• Req Ability to organize and prioritize duties to maximize clinic efficiency.
• Req Ability to work as a team member in an ophthalmic setting.
• Req Knowledge of various ophthalmic clinical protocols.
• Req Demonstrate professional and effective work skills to handle all responsibilities within a fast-paced, high pressure setting.
• Req Strong organizational and follow-up skills.
• Req Flexibility and adaptability given the dynamic nature of medicine and departmental needs.
• Req The ability to interact calmly and effectively with patients with difficult personalities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Pref Experience working in a university-based medical facility/academic teaching environment.

Required Licenses/Certifications:

• Req Certified Ophthalmic Technician Obtained within 12 months of hire and maintained by renewal before expiration date.
• Req Fire Life Safety Training (LA City) If no card upon hire, one must be obtained within 30 days of hire and maintained by renewal before expiration date. (Required within LA City only)
• Req Basic Life Support (BLS) From American Heart Association

The hourly rate range for this position is $30.16 - $47.01. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

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