Optical Technician

Job Summary Under the general direction of the Director of Clinical Operations, support the delivery of patient care services and clinical education through the management of optical services in the WesternU Health Eye Care Institute (ECI). Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Proficient computer skills necessary to create documents, spreadsheets, tables, and/or forms in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Acrobat Professional, EMR / EHR software programs and any other software programs as required by the position with the ability to learn various software programs used within the College of Optometry and the Eye Care Institute. Mathematical ability to add, subtract, divide, multiply, calculate percentages. Language ability to read professional literature, provide patient education, read insurance and third‑party payer information. Reasoning ability to problem‑solve quickly. Self‑assured, experienced leader able to interact with senior executives, anticipate potential problems, and initiate solutions. Able to manage a crisis with upset customers or calm a faculty member, staff member, or student. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to interact with administration, faculty, staff, students, and patients in a highly responsive and professional manner. Culturally sensitive and maintains confidentiality. Ability to multi‑task in a fast‑paced environment and be flexible with job assignments. Basic knowledge of optical services and optical business practices. Ability to manage business aspects of an optical service and provide direct patient care for optical services. Familiarity with optical service terminology and optometric patient care terminology. Demonstrate a commitment to working in an organization that values and promotes humanism. Required Qualifications Education: High School Diploma or Graduate Equivalency Diploma required. Experience: Three to five years’s experience in an optometric clinical practice or institutional setting or any combination of education, training, or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Preferred Qualifications Certified optician or paraoptometric technician preferred. Key Responsibilities Provides direct patient care for spectacle frame and lens selection, fitting, ordering, verification, and dispensing. Verifies accuracy of ophthalmic materials when received from the optical laboratory, assures timely notification of receipt of materials to patients and dispenses and adjusts ophthalmic materials. Orders and verifies contact lenses for diagnostic use and patient dispensing. Coordinates appointment scheduling for contact lens dispensing. Assists patients in the selection of ophthalmic materials, performs all necessary measurements and completes all ordering and input of necessary information into the EHR system. Assists and triages patients with any concerns with ophthalmic materials. Provides direct patient care for spectacle frame and lens selection, fitting, ordering, verification, and dispensing. Provides clinical education in optical services to students enrolled in the College of Optometry. Implements the business aspects of the optical service including stocking, ordering, inventory, display, direct and third‑party billing. Stays current in ophthalmic optics including spectacle lens design, lens materials, need for “lifestyle dispensing”, and trends in frame design. Participates in clinical quality assurance programs. Performs other duties as assigned. The University/College reserves the right to add or change duties at any time. Work Schedule Typical work week is Monday through Friday with a rotating schedule that varies based on assignments as outlined below. Some evenings and weekends are required. 7:30am – 4:30pm 8:00am – 5:00pm 8:30am – 5:30pm Expected Pay Scale Minimum $23.00 Hourly Maximum $25.00 Hourly Physical Demands Employee is regularly required to talk and hear, sit, stand, use hands to grasp objects, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally walk, stoop, and lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. No specific vision abilities are required. No other specific physical demands are required. Describe Work Environment Duties of the Optical Technician are normally performed in a typical office, laboratory, or environmentally controlled interior healthcare setting. The work environment may involve exposure to potentially dangerous materials, e.g., blood and body fluids, communicable diseases, toxic substances, and risk of electric shock. Clinical environments require compliance with safety precautions, OSHA Blood borne pathogen training, and may include the use of certain personal protective equipment. The noise level in this setting is usually moderate due to telephone calls, equipment, and normal patient and student traffic. Equal Opportunity Statement (EEO) It is the policy of Western University to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment as required by law without regard to age, race, color, national origin ancestry, citizenship, ethnicity, creed, religion or religious creed, sex or gender (including gender identity), marital status, sexual orientation, disability (both physical and mental) including HIV and AIDS, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), pregnancy (which includes childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), age, genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other applicable protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. Required Documents Resume Cover Letter Curriculum Vitae Additional Applicant Document #J-18808-Ljbffr