Ophthalmic Technician

For more than 55 years, Family Health Centers of San Diego’s (FHCSD) mission has been to provide caring, affordable, high-quality health care and supportive services to everyone, with a special commitment to uninsured, low-income and medically underserved persons.

FHCSD is one of the top 10 largest federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in the country. We operate more than 90 sites across San Diego County, including 29 primary care clinics, 23 behavioral health facilities, 10 physical rehabilitation clinics, nine dental clinics, five vision clinics, four outpatient substance use treatment programs, three mobile medical units, two mobile counseling centers, two urgent care centers, and a pharmacy.

Our staff provides care to over 227,000 patients each year, of whom 91% are low-income and 29% are uninsured. FHCSD provides care to all. Services include, but are not limited to adult care, chronic disease management, pediatrics, comprehensive women’s care including obstetrics, dental, vision, case management, physical rehabilitation, speech therapy for children, vaccinations, infectious diseases, behavioral health, substance use counseling and a host of specialty services including cardiology, podiatry, endocrinology, dermatology, among others.  FHCSD also offers supportive services to those who are unsheltered and in need of intensive case management.   

The breadth of our clinic locations, services and programs has grown over the last five decades, making us the largest community clinic provider of health care to the uninsured in the county and one of the top 10 largest community clinic organizations in the nation. We are also the largest health care safety-net provider, largest school-based health care provider and the largest mental health provider in the San Diego region.

Job Summary:        

Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD) is looking for an Ophthalmic Technician to perform technical and clerical procedures to assist the Optometrist and Ophthalmologist with patient care in a friendly, caring, and professional manner. This position will perform advanced patient care tasks, maintains vision clinic inventory, and orders supplies from vendors.

Responsibilities:

• Answers phones and greets patients in a pleasant and professional manner. Calls patients when orders arrive. Schedules follow-up appointments and ophthalmologist procedures. Contact pharmacy to call in prescriptions.
• Assists patients with frame and lenses selection. Fills out lab order forms and verifies lab orders and prescriptions (can perform manual and automated lensometry). Obtains base curve measurement of spectacle lenses. Dispenses, adjusts, and repairs eyeglasses. Dispenses contact lenses & trains patients on contact lens insertion, removal, and care of lenses.
• Closes patient encounters, provides health education that is specific to vision and ocular health.
• Completes documentation and patient history for patient visits. Performs case history, Visual Acuity, neutralizes patient’s glasses before the examination, performs Autorefractometer, ancillary testing (Amslers grid, blood pressure, etc.). Completes all visual field testing (FDT & automated fields). Performs Pachymetry, fundus and anterior segment photography (25 & 50-degree view), and Corneal Topography.
• Maintains Vision Clinic supplies and inventory, including ordering contact lenses, frames, and ordering consumable supplies. Maintains eyewash station, drug and contact lenses solutions inventory, and monitors expiration dates.
• Performs eye drop installation as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Responsible for maintaining and preparing Vision Clinic and equipment, including items instrument sterilization, opening clinic (turn on lights and frame warmer, uncovers instruments, removes topical anesthetic from the refrigerator and places with the other ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, photocopies the daily schedule and places copy in the exam room) and closing clinic (prepares exam room and equipment for next day appointments).

Requirements:

• At least 2 years of experience as an Ophthalmic Technician is required.
• Graduation from a course for Optometry Technician or completion of internal training and competencies required.
• High school diploma or GED Equivalent.
• Or equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the skills, knowledge, and ability to perform the essential job duties, and which meets any required state or federal certification requirements.
• Current American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR (BLS), or Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Advanced Trauma Life Support, or Advance Resuscitation Training required.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.

Rewards:

• Job type: Regular Full Time
• Competitive Salary with Excellent Benefits
• Retirement Plan with Employer Match
• Paid Time Off, Extended Sick Leave, and Paid Holidays
• Medical/Dental/Vision/FSA/Life Insurance
• Employee Discounts and Wellness Programs

FHCSD was founded by community activists working towards a common goal: caring, affordable, high-quality medical care for all. We are proud to continue this mission today as we provide accessible services to over 210,000 patients across San Diego County. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to community medicine and providing culturally competent care to the medically underserved.

We are excited to share that the salary range for this position is:

$23.00 - $29.46

Information on our extensive benefits package can be found here: FHCSD Wellness – Employee Hub (gobenefits.net)

FHCSD provides Equal Employment Opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.