Certified Orthoptist

University of Pittsburgh Physicians is hiring a full time Certified Orthoptist to support the Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Strabismus, and Adult Motility. This position will work Monday through Friday 8am to 4:30pm and will cover the following locations: Children’s Hospital, Children’s Pine Center in Wexford, and South Fayette.

The Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Strabismus, and Adult Motility at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is comprised of 3 clinic locations and one administrative space, all working as a team to provide the highest level of care to patients and families through clinical expertise, research initiatives, and strong administrative support. 

 This unique role is a great opportunity for individuals seeking clinical experience and exposure prior to medical, nursing, or scientific programs.

Purpose:
Responsible for evaluating and treating children and adults with ocular motility disorders. Working in a clinical setting to access patients with the use of retinoscopy, ocular motility and bi-nocular vision including but not limited to amblyopic, convergence insufficiency and accommodative esotropia. Familiar with sensorimotor evaluation and measurement for pre and post surgical strabismus and other complaints relating to other binocular function. The Certified Orthoptist performs a broad range of duties related to the delivery of care to adult and pediatric patients seen within the Department of Ophthalmology. Patient care includes visual acuity testing, ocular motility testing, patient medical history and instruction to patients and guardians. The Certified Orthoptist must also instruct Ophthalmology residents, fellows and Ophthalmic Medical Technicians with regard to patient testing, data, testing techniques and theory. The Certified Orthoptist must determine testing methods most suitable for a particular patient. Data derived from these procedures are presented to the staffing Ophthalmologist/Optometrist to determine diagnosis and treatment plans for the patient. The Certified Orthoptist is expected to participate as a member of the Ophthalmology staff with various tasks as assigned.

Responsibilities:

• Will work in a multi-specialty practice that will refer patients to the Orthoptist for sensorimotor evaluation and treatment as a physician extender.
• Advising patients with low vision on the use of magnification and other strategies, such as lighting, to maximize their vision maintaining involvement in departmental research projects, the collection of clinical data for audits and the establishment of relevant protocols.
• Making a diagnosis and formulating a treatment plan, which might involve referral for surgery or the use of more conservative Orthoptic treatment, e.g. the use of a patch to treat a lazy eye; giving an explanation and full instructions to patients about the diagnosis and treatment program suggested.
• Undertaking general administrative duties relating to patient care as well as training students on placement and other health professionals, e.g. optometry students etc-
• Receiving patient referrals from the eye casualty and neurology departments, eye clinics, GPs, health visitors and community clinics; investigating patients clinically to assess their vision, eye position and eye movement, by observation and by the use of specialist equipment.
• Undertaking visual field assessments and participating in extended role activities, such as glaucoma monitoring clinics, and low vision. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, liaising with occupational therapists, physiotherapists and clinical staff.
• The Orthoptist sees patients at the same site as the supervising ophthalmologist, or at a satellite office. These patients may be referred to the Orthoptist for sensorimotor evaluations, management of amblyopia, convergence insufficiency, accommodative esotropia, and other non-surgical disorders of ocular motility and binocular vision from the supervising ophthalmologist’s practice, or from the medical community. The Orthoptist is an employee of the hospital or clinic.
• Keeping up to date with current practices and recording work activities as part of continuing professional development (CPD).
• Work in conjunction with staff, residents, fellows to engage in group and/or indivuial training and educational needs of staff and students when needed; as well as monitors the timelines, accuracy and quality of images, reports and related work outputs
• The Orthoptist works side by side with the ophthalmologist as technical support for his/her clinics, performing the preliminary examination of each patient (which may or may not include cycloplegic retinoscopy) prior to the examination by the physician. The Orthoptist may also accompany the surgeon to the operating room and function as the scrub nurse or first assistant. Alternatively, the Orthoptist may see follow-up patients on her/his own schedule while the physician is in the operating room.
• Perform all responsibilities in a manor that demonstrates appropriate behavior toward staff, peers and other departmental personnel as defined in the UPMC/UPP job performance standards.
• There will be a research component in the job, and the successful candidate will work with the division chief to develop a programme of orthoptic and ophthalmic research