Ophthalmic Medical Assistant
Ophthalmic Medical Assistant: A Rewarding Career in Eye Care and Patient Support
Becoming an ophthalmic medical assistant is an excellent entry point for your medical field.
Those who enjoy utilizing medical knowledge and tools to communicate with patients and work closely
with them are definitely the perfect fit for this position.
An ophthalmic medical assistant has a crucial role within the eye care staff. They have the perk of working
closely with both Ophthalmologists and patients at the same time.
Being an Ophthalmic medical assistant requires a big amount of responsibilities to be handled,
and this is what we will discuss in detail later.
Being an Ophthalmic medical assistant you should expect proper career advancement as your knowledge
and skills grow every day.
Also, this will be followed with personal fulfillment when you get to see your patients are having a pain free life,
in which their eyes are not causing them any disorders.
Mo Academy is your deal breaker to dig deep in everything Ophthalmic medical assistant.
In this article, you will get to know who is the Ophthalmic medical assistant, what educational and training
path should Ophthalmic assistant’s acquire, and how to apply for Ophthalmic medical assistants’ jobs.
This is your chance to get to learn more about Ophthalmology Training,
Ophthalmology Technician Training, Ophthalmology Specialty Training,
Training in Ophthalmology, and Ophthalmologist Courses.
Who Is the Ophthalmic Medical Assistant and What Does He/She Do?
An Ophthalmic medical assistant is usually the very first point of contact with the patients.
They are the ones responsible for checking the patients’ records and explaining the medical process for them.
They must have excellent communication skills to ensure proper patient experience.
An Ophthalmic medical assistant is also responsible for running some eye tests.
They are asked to measure visual acuity using charts. It is also their responsibility to check on eye pressure
and pupil movements and reactions.
Whether as a treatment or anesthesia, they should administer eye drops on the patient.
There are certain diagnostic equipment they should be using to perform tests such as OCT,
Optical Coherence Tomography, Visual field testing, Fundus photography, and corneal topography.
When it comes to their support for the Ophthalmologist, an Ophthalmic medical assistant
ensures rooms and equipment are prepared beforehand.
Also, they assist with minor procedures or laser treatments such as femtosecond laser cataract surgery.
On the other hand, the administrative tasks are also part of their field of support.
They schedule appointments, manage the insurance forms, save patients’ records,
and explain the whole procedure from A to Z to the patients.
Additionally, they are responsible for acquiring the patients’ consent after explaining the procedure for them in some cases.
Training and Education for Ophthalmic Medical Assistants:
In order to become an Ophthalmic medical assistant, there is a certain educational tunnel
you have to go through, and this is what Mo Academy will be breaking down to you now.
High School Diploma or Equivalent:
The minimum requirement to enter an Ophthalmic training is acquiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
A tip from us is to focus on science courses like biology, anatomy, and math to lay a base for the steps to come next.
Enroll in an Ophthalmic Assistant Training Program:
Community college and technical schools offer an abundant number of training programmes
for the different highschool graduates.
These programme durations usually vary from 6 months to 1 year. These programmes coursework
prepare you to get into the Ophthalmic field. So, you get to know basic optic knowledge and refractive errors.
Additionally, you will learn common eye diseases as well as diagnostic procedures and imaging.
These programmes are also made to inform those who aim at being Ophthalmic medical assistants
about medical ethics and patient care.
Complete Clinical or Externship Training:
Most Ophthalmic training programmes include hands-on training in a real eye clinic, which allows
trainees to gain a collection of skills.
These skills include but are not limited to performing vision tests, utilizing ophthalmic instruments,
and working hand in hand with Ophthalmologists in the different procedures.
Obtain Certification:
While obtaining this certification is not a must, it is highly recommended. Employed,
whether in clinics or hospitals, prioritize those who are certified.
For them, this Ophthalmic medical assistant’s performance and qualifications are proven through this certificate.
One of the most recognized certifications is Certified Ophthalmic Assistant, COA, through IJCAHPO.
This certification requires 1,000+ hours of supervised work experience.
Moreover, you just have passed a written exam covering clinical and technical skills to obtain this certification.
How to Apply for an Ophthalmic Medical Assistant Job?
Complete Your Education and Training:
It adds up that in order to apply for an Ophthalmic medical assistant job, you must have finished
your training and better acquired your certification.
All in all, a diploma program or sufficient on-the-job training must be done.
Prepare a Professional Resume and Cover Letter:
As a book has a cover, your resume is your cover. Therefore, you must prepare a well organized
resume that reflects the experience you have and your gained skills.
This resume must show your acquired training and certifications as well as your soft skills alongside your clinical ones.
Mo Academy is giving you a top-notch top here. Your cover letter has to be tailored for each job.
Also, it has to highlight your true passion towards the eye care field and highlight how great of a fit you are to this position.
Apply Online or In-Person:
Harness every opportunity to apply for the job.You can submit your application via job sites or clinic websites.
Yet, you can also go for local clinics and visit them in person to leave a resume.
Many times, this move leaves a positive impact. It shows you are confident and ready to initiate.
Also, you need to be prepared for your interviews through always revising the clinical and optic technical
skills you will be interviewed about.
There are many types of courses that Mo Academy offers to ensure the highest level of knowledge for its enrollers.
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Conclusion:
By pursuing being an Ophthalmic medical assistant, you are setting your footsteps in a field that is ever evolving and of high demand. Throughout the previous lines, you got to know what the role of Ophthalmic medical assistant is asked to do. Additionally, we give you hints about the skills that you should work on to make a successful Ophthalmic medical assistant. Your educational path to become an Ophthalmic medical assistant has multiple phases, yet they all serve your ultimate passion. Lastly, Mo Academy is your ultimate guide as agreed; therefore, we are taking you step by step into acquiring a job in the eye care field, especially for those who want to become Ophthalmic medical assistants.
Since you have made it to here, you are definitely to unlock and explore the full potential of the optic world, and we are waiting for you to experience this when you Contact us