Optician

Salud Para La Gente (SALUD) provides high quality, comprehensive and cost-effective healthcare to underserved low-income communities in the Monterey Bay area, including Santa Cruz County and North Monterey County. We began in Watsonville in 1978 as a storefront “free clinic”. With the ever growing need for health services, in 1992 we became a Federally Qualified Community Health Center (FQHC). Today we are a primary health care network with 11 clinic sites, over 400 employees and continue to provide high quality services to patients of all ages.

We are seeking a dynamic, organized and detail-oriented Optician to be responsible for assisting in patient care and providing support to the Optometrist by measuring acuity and obtaining the medical and ocular history of patients, reading prescriptions, and assisting in fitting and dispensing glasses and contact lenses. Additionally, the Optician will assist with the maintenance and operation of optical equipment and storage of supplies, assist with patient intake, frame selection, order prescribed lenses, provide patients with instructions on the handling of different types of contact and spectacle lenses, minor triage, sterilizing equipment, maintaining stocked exam rooms, and stabilizing clinic flow.

SALUD offers a collaborative culture that values excellence, achievement, innovation, teamwork and compassion while ensuring respect, dignity and fairness for our patients.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following

• Interprets prescriptions written by ophthalmologists and optometrists.
• Collects eye measurements including corneal width and thickness.
• Assists patients with the selection of eyeglass and lens treatments including tints and coatings.
• Creates work orders for lab technicians to ensure delivery of the proper lenses.
• Adjusts eyeglasses to ensure a proper fit.
• Repairs broken frames.
• Educates clients on proper eyeglass and contact lens care.
• Assists with medical history intake, including: Main complaint, optometric pre-testing procedures, retinal photography and measurements, and vital statistics.
• Assists patients with follow-up instructions and/or appointments.
• Monitors patient information exchange for referrals.
• Monitors patient flow, assisting Optometrist with procedures as necessary: Set up patients in exam room, facilitates Optometrist ability to achieve standard productivity level.
• Recommends scheduling adjustments or enhancements to achieve productivity level; works with scheduling staff, Optometrist, and Clinic Manager to achieve necessary adjustments.
• Assists in scheduling and confirming appointments according to clinic policies in coordination with Patient Services Coordinators.
• Answers incoming calls courteously and professionally, taking messages and screens calls for medical urgency.
• Respects and maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
• Stocks exam rooms, sterilizes equipment and maintains instruments.
• Keeps inventory of clinical materials and supplies, orders supplies and glasses as needed.
• Helps compile patients’ notes and scans documents to EHR.
• May participate in off-site clinics.
• Attends and participates in regular scheduled meetings.
• Wears appropriate clinic dress including protective hand gloves when handling needles or sharp objects; observes universal precautions.
• Assists Optometrist with prescription refills.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• One (1) year experience working in a Healthcare clinic setting
• High school graduate
• Bilingual Spanish/English
• Valid CA driver’s license and current vehicle insurance;
• Current valid CPR certification.

Knowledge of

• Sterilization techniques
• The use and care of medical office equipment and supplies
• Medical terminology

Ability to

• Demonstrate proficiency in Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.
• Respect and maintain patient confidentiality at all times.
• Travel between sites.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• State of California Spectacle Lens and Contact Lens Dispenser Certified.
• One (1) year experience in Retail Sales.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Standing, walking, sitting, typing, reaching, bending, moving and/or lifting up to 50 pounds.

SALARY & BENEFITS:

Salary Range: $24.87 - $30.99 per hour.

Employment Type: Full Time

Benefits: available to all regular Salud employees working 24+ hours per week. Part-time employees may receive some benefits on a pro-rated basis.

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance Plans
• Paid Time Off (PTO): 19 days per year
• Paid Holidays: 13.5 per year
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with employer contribution
• 403 (B), FSA for dependent care
• Voluntary Long-Term Disability

Additional Information

• Employees on temporary assignments are eligible for holiday pay and California sick pay, both pro-rated based on hours worked.
• On-call employees are eligible for California sick pay, pro-rated based on hours worked.

Salud is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Salud is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact the Salud Human Resources Department, [831-728-8250, and HRDept@splg.org].