Orthoptist

University of Iowa Health Care, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, is seeking an 100% Orthoptist (Ophthalmic Professional II; PK80) to serve as an orthoptic clinical and technical expert. The Orthoptist provides direct patient care by performing sensorimotor testing, evaluating and treating eye movement disorders and binocular vision, participating in the evaluation and diagnosis of patients with amblyopia, diplopia, genetic disorders of the eye, pediatric and adult strabismus, and other eye movement conditions. The Orthoptist also assists in coordinating and educating fellows, residents, orthoptic students, and doctors who rotate through the services, participates in clinical research into eye movement disorders, diplopia, strabismus, nystagmus, and inherited eye disorders, and serves as a liaison between the ophthalmology clinics and other areas in the Department of Ophthalmology and other clinics throughout the hospital.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Patient Care 

• Performs standard work-up of patients, including visual acuity, refraction, sensorimotor exam, medications, and summary of current complaint according to clinic assigned.
• Documents findings concisely and accurately.
• Consults with the appropriate physician as needed.
• Create treatment plans for patients with eye movement problems and binocular vision
• Supervises the flow of patients and their charts in and out of the clinics.
• Acts as liaison between the Ophthalmology Clinic and other specific areas in and outside University Hospitals to assure the provision of tests within the Department.
• Coordinates the timing of the sequence of examination and University requirements for scheduling additional tests, alerting proper clinical areas to facilitate patient flow, patient care, and clinic operation.
• Assures proper signing of records and billing forms and submits them according to protocol.
• Assists ophthalmology scheduling with on-call or referral patients to coordinate the most appropriate care.
• Participates in clinical research into eye movement disorders, diplopia, strabismus, nystagmus, and inherited eye disorders.

Communication

• Calls patients and relays information when needed.
• Follows through with messages, assignments, and responsibilities.
• Communicates with other technical staff as needed.

Leadership

• Serves as a role model while performing direct patient care and testing.
• Suggests improvements in work areas and takes an active role in working with others to achieve progress.
• Assists with maintaining and repairing equipment and prioritizing needs for replacements.
• Follows University, hospital, and department policies and procedures.
• Performs special projects and tasks as assigned.

Education

• Orients new technical personnel and evaluates the competency of the learner.
• Suggests educational needs for technicians.
• Assists in training orthoptic students, residents, and fellows in clinical and sensorimotor eye exam.
• Attends and presents continuing education offerings for nurses and technicians.
• Assumes responsibility as the primary author of research involving patients with strabismus, eye movement disorders, amblyopia, and inherited eye disorders, to be published in various orthoptic and ophthalmology journals

Grant Participation

• Undertakes responsibilities associated with multi-center and/or grant-funded research.
• Participates in training and certification of investigators in protocols and proper examination procedures.
• Serves as liaison between principal investigator and participating institutions or funding agencies.
• Reviews charts of patients with the specified clinical entity for possible study enrollment.
• Performs examination, per protocol, on all study patients at each clinic visit.
• Documents patient status on appropriate data collection for each clinic visit and sends to coordinating center.
• Educates study patients and their families regarding the study's purpose, risks, benefits, and responsibilities.
• Monitors timely follow-up of patients.
• Orders and/or disperses all supplies to participating institutions.
• Ensures all study procedures are done according to protocol.
• Attends appropriate meetings.

Research

• Attends and participates in seminars, conferences, and conventions.
• Delivers papers concerning own research at meetings 

University of Iowa Health Care—recognized as one of the best hospitals in the United States—is Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center and a regional referral center. Each day more than 12,000 employees, students, and volunteers work together to provide safe, quality health care and excellent service for our patients. Simply stated, our mission is: Changing Medicine. Changing Lives.^®

Percent of Time: 80-100%

Schedule: Preferred schedule Monday – Friday, 8:00a-5:00p. Schedule may be modified to fit candidate, clinic needs, and FTE between 80 and 100%.

Location: UIHC, Iowa City

Rotations: N/A

Pay Level: 75