Lead Ophthalmic Technician - Full-Time, Days/Evenings

Job Description

Be a part of a world-class academic healthcare system at UChicago Medicine as a Lead Ophthalmic Technician with our Ophthalmology clinic in Hyde Park. The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science provides medical and surgical treatment of eye diseases. The department members' interests include cataract surgery with lens implantation, transplantation including corneal diseases plus refractive surgery, vitreo-retinal surgery, and medical diseases of the retina including special treatment of diabetic retinopathy and age-related retinal degenerations, eye plastic surgery, strabismus surgery, and neuro-ophthalmology. 

At UChicago Medicine, we offer comprehensive eye care services, including screenings and treatments for common eye conditions like cataracts and glaucoma, as well as glasses prescriptions. Our expert Ophthalmology and Visual Science team is dedicated to providing advanced medical and surgical solutions for a wide range of ocular disorders affecting patients of all ages, from infants to adults.

Assists the Practice Manager in leading the day-to-day operations of the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science’s (OVS) clinic.  Acts as a resource to other technicians.  Maintains clinical equipment, inventory levels, and clinical staff schedules. Assists in the hiring of new staff and maintains and ensures annual competencies are met.  Meets regularly with Ophthalmology leadership to discuss problems or suggestions for improving processes, engagement, and patient throughput.

Essential Job Functions: 

• Serves as a leader and role model for staff ophthalmology technicians and demonstrates PRIDE values of University of Chicago Medicine. Always puts the patient in the center of daily standard work.
• Responsible for ensuring instrumentation, and all equipment is maintained in a clean and/or sterile environment
• Responsible for the inventory management/ordering of supplies.
• Coordinates staff work assignments to support daily patient volume.
• Develops and oversees daily work schedule for technicians; includes requests for time off and absence management
• Provides input into annual performance reviews of ophthalmology technicians.
• Reviews and updates clinic policies and procedures as requested; Works with practice manager and physicians to institute new policies and procedures
• Ensures all regulatory compliance standards are met for patient and staff safety
• Responsible for orientation and education of ophthalmology technicians. Presents instructional seminars to staff as needed
• Participates in clinical quality initiatives of the OVS clinic.
• Participates in own professional development to maintain licensure and/or accreditation
• Responsible for service repairs of diagnostic and metric testing equipment for on campus and off campus OVS clinic sites.
• Under the direction and order of the physician:
• Takes patient medical, past medical, family and medication histories. Records patient ocular history 
• Measures and records visual acuities and intraocular pressures
• Evaluates the pupil, estimates the anterior chamber depth and examines the eyes for afferent papillary defect
• Administers eye drops, dressings and shields
• Assists physician in surgical procedures
• Instructs the patient on post-operative care and documents accordingly
• Exhibits basic knowledge and understanding of ocular motility, visual fields, contact lenses (basic principles and fitting procedures), retinoscopy and ocular pharmacology. Performs color vision, lensometry, exophthalmometry, Amsler Grid and Schirmer testing.  Is familiar with the following diagnostic equipment:  Lenstar; IOL Master; Zeiss Cirrus OCT; OptoVue OCT; Pentacam, Humphry Visual Field; Optos wide field fundus photography; B-scan ultrasonography; A-scan biometry; D-15 color vision testing; F-M 100 color testing

Required Qualifications: 

• Applicant must have a high school diploma or equivalency;
• Two years of experience as a COA required;
• COA required to complete COT designation within 12 months of hire date
• Considerable skills in communicating verbally, in handling public contact with discretion, tact and courtesy, and in determining priorities, organizing work, working independently and in making decisions
• Ability to ascertain whether a situation is urgent, emergent or routine
• CPR certification required
• COA, COT, COMT

Preferred Qualifications:

• Four year college degree strongly preferred.

• two years as a COT strongly preferred
• Prior supervisory experience strongly preferred

Position Details: 

• Job Type/FTE: Full-Time (1.0 FTE) 
• Shift: Rotating – 7:30 am - 7 pm
• Work Location: Onsite - DCAM
• Unit/Department: Ophthalmology    
• CBA Code: Non-Union 

Why Join Us

We’ve been at the forefront of medicine since 1899. We provide superior healthcare with compassion, always mindful that each patient is a person, an individual. To accomplish this, we need employees with passion, talent and commitment… with patients and with each other. We’re in this together: working to advance medical innovation, serve the health needs of the community, and move our collective knowledge forward. If you’d like to add enriching human life to your profile, UChicago Medicine is for you. Here at the forefront, we’re doing work that really matters. Join us. Bring your passion.

UChicago Medicine is growing; discover how you can be a part of this pursuit of excellence at: UChicago Medicine Career Opportunities

UChicago Medicine is an equal opportunity employer.  We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, civil union status, parental status, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status and other legally protected characteristics.

As a condition of employment, all employees are required to complete a pre-employment physical, background check, drug screening, and comply with the flu vaccination requirements prior to hire. Medical and religious exemptions will be considered for flu vaccination consistent with applicable law.

Compensation & Benefits Overview

UChicago Medicine is committed to transparency in compensation and benefits.  The pay range provided reflects the anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position.

The pay range is based on a full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) and is reflective of current market data, reviewed on an annual basis. Compensation offered at the time of hire will vary based on candidate qualifications and experience and organizational considerations, such as internal equity. Pay ranges for employees subject to Collective Bargaining Agreements are negotiated by the medical center and their respective union.

Review the full complement of benefit options for eligible roles at Benefits - UChicago Medicine.