Clinical Assistant / Ophthalmic Assistant
Retina Specialist Clinic – Toronto Western Hospital
Location: Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, ON
Schedule: Every Wednesday, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Start Date: ASAP
Position Type: Part-time
Position Overview
We are looking for a reliable, friendly, and motivated Clinical Assistant / Ophthalmic Assistant to join a retina specialist clinic at Toronto Western Hospital. This is an excellent opportunity for someone interested in healthcare, medicine, ophthalmology, optometry, or patient care.
The successful candidate will be trained to assist with patient intake and basic ophthalmic testing, including checking vision and eye pressure. The role involves working directly with patients, preparing them before they are seen by the physician, and helping the clinic run smoothly and efficiently.
This position is ideal for someone who enjoys interacting with patients, has strong communication skills, is detail-oriented, and wants to develop practical clinical experience in a busy specialist medical setting.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
The Clinical Assistant / Ophthalmic Assistant will be responsible for:
Patient Greeting and Intake
- Calling patients from the waiting area.
- Verifying patient identity, including name and date of birth.
- Escorting and seating patients in the examination room.
- Ensuring patients feel comfortable and informed during their clinic visit.
- Communicating clearly and respectfully with patients, including elderly patients and patients with visual impairment.
Patient Preparation
- Preparing patients before they are seen by the retina specialist.
- Taking and documenting a brief medical and ocular history.
- Asking about the reason for the visit, current symptoms, past eye history, medications, allergies, and relevant medical conditions.
- Confirming whether the patient has had any recent changes in vision, eye pain, flashes, floaters, or other eye-related symptoms.
- Assisting with patient flow to help maintain an efficient clinic schedule.
Basic Ophthalmic Testing
Training will be provided. Duties may include:
- Checking and documenting visual acuity.
- Measuring intraocular pressure.
- Instilling eye drops as directed, including dilating drops.
- Documenting test results accurately in the patient chart.
- Preparing the patient for further examination by the physician.
Clinical Support
- Helping organize examination rooms and ensuring rooms are ready for each patient.
- Assisting with basic clinic workflow and patient movement.
- Communicating patient concerns or urgent symptoms to the physician or clinic team.
- Maintaining patient confidentiality and professionalism at all times.
- Following clinic protocols and infection-control procedures.
Skills and Qualities We Are Looking For
The ideal candidate should be:
- Friendly, professional, and comfortable interacting with patients.
- Reliable and punctual.
- Organized and detail-oriented.
- Able to follow instructions carefully.
- Comfortable working in a busy clinical environment.
- Interested in healthcare, ophthalmology, medicine, optometry, or patient care.
- Able to communicate clearly with patients and clinic staff.
- Compassionate and patient, especially when working with elderly patients or patients with reduced vision.
- Willing to learn new clinical skills.
Qualifications
- Previous experience in a medical clinic, eye clinic, optometry office, or healthcare setting is an asset, but not required.
- Training will be provided for vision testing, pressure checks, eye drops, and clinic workflow.
- Students or individuals interested in pursuing healthcare careers are welcome to apply.
- Ability to speak Mandarin and/or Cantonese is considered a strong asset.
Why This Is a Great Opportunity
This position offers valuable hands-on exposure to a specialist medical clinic and is a great opportunity for someone who wants to:
- Gain real-world clinical experience.
- Learn basic ophthalmic testing skills.
- Develop strong patient communication and interpersonal skills.
- Work closely with a retina specialist.
- See interesting and complex eye diseases.
- Build experience in the healthcare field.
- Explore future careers in medicine, optometry, ophthalmology, nursing, or allied health.
Schedule
The position is currently for:
Every Wednesday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Applicants must be available for the full clinic day.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should send a brief resume and a short message outlining their interest in the position and any relevant experience.
We are looking for someone to start as soon as possible.
Pay: $17.20-$42.86 per hour
Work Location: In person
