Summary

The Vision Therapist in the Arizona College of Optometry will assist in performing administration of scheduling, ordering, and coordination of outreach for the Pediatrics and Binocular Vision Department. The Vision Therapist will fulfill an educational role by coordinating with the pediatrics/binocular vision faculty in the teaching, delivery and application of vision therapy techniques and procedures. This position reports to the Clinical Care Coordinator for Pediatrics/Binocular Vision.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Work directly with student/resident clinicians in the implementation and evaluation of patient vision therapy plans prescribed by pediatric/binocular vision faculty.


• Provide Direct Patient Care as needed in the vision therapy clinic(s).


• Provide feedback to student/resident clinicians regarding vision therapy techniques and procedures.


• Provide feedback to pediatric/binocular vision faculty regarding student/resident clinician performance and achievement in the area of vision therapy.


• Report to pediatric/binocular vision faculty regarding patient progress within the prescribed vision therapy program.


• Communicate with patients/parents regarding patient performance, improvements, and follow-up appointments.


• Undergo vision therapist training/certification as assigned.


• Assist in Non Strabismic of Binocular Vision Disorder lab sections.


• Appropriately document patient encounters into the electronic health record.


• Coordinate vision therapy appointment schedules with pediatric/binocular vision faculty, patient accounts representatives and student/resident clinicians.


• Schedule pediatric/binocular exams acquired brain injury, and vision therapy.


• Report to clinic manager, pediatric/binocular vision faculty, patient accounts representatives regarding scheduling conflicts or issues.


• Work with pediatric/binocular vision faculty to develop and implement clinical and community in-services.


• Participate and coordinate in community outreach events targeting pediatric/binocular vision, acquired brain injury and sports vision populations.


• Maintain vision therapy workspace, equipment, supplies.


• Report to clinic manager, pediatric/binocular vision faculty regarding facilities, equipment, and supplies issues.


• Acuitas Ordering and Inventory.


• Other duties assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Must be able to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner and have regular, predictable, in-person attendance.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience

High School diploma or equivalent is required. Bachelor’s Degree preferred. Must have at least 5 years of experience in an optometric clinical environment or 3-5 years of experience in an optometric clinical environment with a COVT certification (Certified Optometric Vision Therapist).  Previous experience teaching is preferred. 

Computer Skills

Computer proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) 

Language Skills

Intermediate skills: Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of an organization.

Reasoning Ability

Intermediate skills: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Mathematical Ability

Intermediate skills: Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interests, commissions and proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, use hands to handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, talk, and hear. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and sit. Ability to tolerate repeated routine tasks.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Midwestern University is a private, not-for-profit organization that provides graduate and post-graduate education in the health sciences. The University has two campuses, one in Downers Grove, Illinois and the other in Glendale, Arizona. More than 6,000 full-time students are enrolled in graduate programs in osteopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nurse anesthesia, cardiovascular perfusion, podiatry, optometry, clinical psychology, speech language pathology, biomedical sciences and veterinary medicine. Over 500 full-time faculty members and 400 staff members are dedicated to the education and development of our students in an environment that encourages learning, respect for all members of the health care team, service, interdisciplinary scholarly activity, and personal growth.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance plans as well as life insurance, short/long term disability and pet insurance.  We offer flexible spending accounts including healthcare reimbursement and child/dependent care account.  We offer a work life balance with competitive time off package including paid holiday’s, sick/flex days, personal days and vacation days.  We offer a 403(b) retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, child care subsidy reimbursement program, identity theft protection and an employee assistance program.  Wellness is important to us and we offer a wellness facility on-site with a fully equipped fitness facility. 

Midwestern University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that does not discriminate against an employee or applicant based upon race; color; religion; creed; national origin or ancestry; ethnicity; sex (including pregnancy); gender (including gender expressions, gender identity; and sexual orientation); marital status; age; disability; citizenship; past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services; genetic information; or any other protected class, in accord with
all federal, state and local laws, including 41 C.F.R. 60-1.4(a), 250.5(a), 300.5(a) and 741.5(a). Midwestern University complies with the Smoke-Free Arizona Act (A.R.S. 36-601.01) and the Smoke Free Illinois Act (410 ILCS 82/).  Midwestern University complies with the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003 and Arizona Equal Pay Acts.