Surgery Counselor​/Clinical Assistant - Ophthalmology

Surgery Counselor/Clinical Assistant - Ophthalmology

Vail Health has become the world’s most advanced mountain healthcare system. Vail Health consists of an updated 520,000-square‑foot, 56‑bed hospital. This state‑of‑the‑art facility provides exceptional care to all of our patients, with the most beautiful views in the area, located centrally in Vail.

The Surgery Counselor/Clinical Assistant is a patient‑centered liaison and integral member of the ophthalmology team, supporting both clinical workflows and patient counseling to deliver exceptional care and a seamless experience for individuals considering eye surgery/procedures. This role educates and guides patients through evaluations, scheduling, payment options, payment collection and peri‑operative steps; coordinates timely communication among surgeons, providers, and staff; and ensures accurate documentation and follow‑up throughout the surgical journey.

In addition, this role contributes to clinic efficiency by assisting with additional clinical tasks and administrative duties as assigned, maintaining high standards of safety, service, and compliance.

• Assist providers and clinical staff with examinations, procedures, and direct patient care.
• Prepare patients for scheduled procedures and perform ophthalmologic tests (visual acuity, tonometry, pachymetry, visual fields, corneal topography, OCTs, lensometry, etc.).
• Obtain and document complete patient histories, including chief complaint, medical/ocular history, allergies, and medications.
• Provide patient counseling and education regarding procedures, pre‑testing, surgery and payment options.
• Verify insurance for procedures and assist with related administrative tasks.
• Assist with pre‑op and post‑op counseling, procedure setup, and in‑office procedures.
• Schedule patients, manage follow‑up (phone and face‑to‑face), and respond promptly and professionally to patient inquiries.
• Perform Clinical Assistant and Ophthalmic Tech duties as needed.

This description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job.

• 2 years of relevant clinical experience, preferred
• 3 years of sales or patient surgical counseling experience, preferred
• Basic knowledge of medical terminology, medical equipment, HIPAA compliance and OSHA rules and regulations, required

• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required
• One of the following licenses required:
  • Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA)
  • Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT)
  • Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technician (COMT)
  • Certified Medical Assistant (MA)
  • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
  • Emergency Medical Technician (EMP)
  • Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

• Competitive Wages & Family Benefits:
  • Competitive wages
  • Parental leave (4 weeks paid)
  • Housing programs
  • Childcare reimbursement
• Medical
• Vision
• Educational Programs:
  • Tuition Assistance
  • Existing Student Loan Repayment
  • Specialty Certification Reimbursement
  • Annual Supplemental Educational Funds
• Paid Time Off:
  • Up to five weeks in your first year of employment and continues to grow each year.
• Retirement & Supplemental Insurance:
  • 403(b) Retirement plan with immediate matching
  • Life insurance
  • Short and long‑term disability
• Recreation Benefits, Wellness & More:
  • Up to $1,000 annual wellbeing reimbursement
  • Recreation discounts
  • Pet insurance

Hourly Pay: $24.28 - $33.51 USD

As set forth in Vail Health Hospital’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.