Eastern Kansas Health Care System is currently recruiting for a full time Optometrist for our Topeka Ks location.

Duties

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. The Optometrist provides comprehensive eye and vision care to eligible veterans presenting in clinic and during scheduled regular and off hours emergency call. This includes but is not limited to a full exercise of credentials for correction of vision, treatment of eye diseases and disorders that are within the scope of the optometrist's clinical privileges, and providing rehabilitative care if applicable. Additionally, the optometrist may perform reading of tele retinal imaging studies provided the incumbent has been trained and certified by the Office of Telehealth Services Store and Forward Training Center and the reading is delineated and approved in the optometrist's clinical privileges. SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS OR SCOPE OF ASSIGNED DUTIES: Provide comprehensive eye care services as well as follow-up care of existing conditions and management of emergency conditions. Examination of the human eye by any method, other than surgery, to diagnose, threat, or refer for consultation or treatment any abnormal condition of the human eye or its adnexa. Employment of instruments, devices, pharmaceutical agents and procedures, other than surgery, intended for the purposes of investigating, examining, treating, diagnosing or correcting visual defects or abnormal conditions of the human eye or its adnexa. Prescribing of lenses, devices containing lenses, prisms, contact lenses, orthoptics, vision training, pharmaceutical agents, and prosthetic devices to correct, relieve or treat defects or abnormal conditions or the human eye or its adnexa. Referral to and consultation with other health care providers within the Eastern Kansas medical centers as indicated. Screening procedures necessary to assist in proper routing of patients to appropriate health care providers. Reusable Medical Equipment: All personnel who are involved with the reprocessing of RME are responsible for knowing what reusable instruments, equipment, medical devices or supplies are used (inventory) in their clinical area. All personnel who are involved with the use of RME must be familiar with which items are reprocessed locally (on unit) and/or which items are sent to sterile processing and/or SPS for reprocessing and/or sterilization. Planning, coordinating and exercising professional judgment in initiating and implementing administrative and clinical decisions are integral components of the position. Incumbent must be able to exercise independent professional judgment in diagnosing the full range of complex optometric conditions as well as planning and executing the necessary treatment programs to meet complex and frequent changes in the treatment objective. Incumbent will be responsible for acting as a preceptor for Optometry students as well as participating in weekly education. Incumbent will perform other duties as assigned by management. Work Schedule is Monday-Friday 0730-1600. Alternative scheduling can be discussed with the service line.

Requirements

Qualifications

Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3) Education: Doctor of Optometry degree from an ACOE-accredited school or college of optometry. Licensure: Licensure to practice optometry in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia. Appointee must possess full and unrestricted licensure and maintain a current registration in the state of licensure if this is a requirement of the state. Training: Appointee must have completed an ACOE-approved optometry residency program or demonstrate evidence of professional and clinical background sufficient to be deemed equivalent to an approved residency program experience. Completion of a residency or the equivalent clinical experience is strongly preferred. Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), 7405(f) and 7407(d). In addition to the basic requirement stated above, additional qualifications criteria according to the Optometrist Qualification standard will be used in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. Incumbent must meet the needs of customers while supporting VA missions; consistently communicate and treat customers (veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner; provide customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures; and handle conflict and problems in dealing with customers constructively and appropriately. Incumbent must protect printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, federal regulations, VA statutes and policy, and VHA policy; protect the data from unauthorized release or from loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion; follow applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of access codes, etc., as set out in the computer access agreement signed by the incumbent. Incumbent must be physically able to perform all elements of a standard comprehensive eye examination including the use of standard ophthalmic equipment and to administer emergency eye care services. Incumbent must be certified in basic life support (BLS). Grade determination: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. a. Associate Grade. None beyond the basic requirements. b. Full Grade. Two years of optometric practice or its equivalent. One year of approved residency training or its creditable equivalent acceptable to the Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association is acceptable in lieu of the 2 years of practice. Candidate must have demonstrated the professional competence and performance necessary to provide independently the full range of clinical optometric diagnosis and treatment for all the most prevalent types of vision dysfunctions and the detection and referral of patients with ocular disease or ocular manifestations of systemic disease. c. Intermediate Grade. Meets the requirements in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) below: (1) Four years of optometric practice or its equivalent. One year of approved residency training or its creditable equivalent acceptable to the Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association is acceptable in lieu of 2 years of practice. (2) The optometrist at this level has successfully passed the examinations of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry and has attained either of the following: (a) The stature that would warrant appointment at the clinical instructor or higher level at a school or college of optometry.(b) The professional ability and personal attributes which have merited significant recognition by a recognized professional organization, such as election to a Fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry. (3) Has achieved a high level of professional attainment as illustrated by one or more of the following examples: (a) Is a recognized expert in the diagnosis and treatment of unusual and complicated visual dysfunctions. Typically, in this capacity serves as a consultant to optometrist and other professionals in other health facilities or provides expert clinical services in such areas as the partially sighted or contact lenses for aphasics. (b) Has assumed responsibility for a multi-faceted optometric program including clinical research and/or training requiring a high degree of competence and skill in developing innovative and new and affiliated health care facility having an optometric training program of moderate scope involving liaison with other medical services and affiliated schools. (c) Has played a significant part in the conduct of vision research in a problem area of considerable scope and complexity which required novel approaches, and which resulted in answers to important questions or important changes in existing methods and techniques. Publications authored by the optometrist are of considerable value to others in the individual's field. Typically, overall contributions are recognized by serving on important committees or other bodies in the profession. (d) Has had full responsibility for carrying out an optometric training program of significant size in which the optometrist has been responsible for maintaining liaison with the affiliated school and other educational institutions and professional or scientific organizations. Innovative approaches in development of curriculum and course content and in expanding and improving the educational program have been displayed by the individual. d. Senior Grade. Meets the requirements for Intermediate grade and the requirements in paragraphs (1) and (2) below: (1) The optometrist at this level possesses such academic stature as would warrant a faculty appointment of a professional level in an approved school or college of optometry. (2) Has demonstrated recognized superior professional attainment as evidenced by one or more of the following examples: (a) Has served as a team leader in attacking major optometric problems affecting the continued provision of quality care health services at a VISN, statewide, or national level. (b) Has had responsibility for carrying out a major optometric program segment on a national level. (c) Has conducted high level studies in a difficult area of vision research which has contributed to a substantial advance in the health field, with important professional publications. Chief Grade. Meets the requirements for Senior grade and must demonstrate a sustained very high level of professional performance with evidence of exceptional professional and/or administrative development by the following: (1) Has assumed substantial professional and/or administrative responsibilities in which the individual is expected to fully advise and make professional clinical and educational recommendations as to courses of action on problems and considerations of national scope in all areas of optometry. Typically, the optometrist at this level has had responsibility for a major optometric program segment on a nationwide basis and has been consistently called upon to represent the organization in an authoritative manner in matters dealing with development of new and/or revised concepts and programs having a major impact upon the academic, medical, and optometric communities. (2) Outstanding professional attainment. References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G5 Optometrist Qualification Standard.The full performance level of this vacancy is VP-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 11 to 13.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Physical Requirements: This position requires a pre-employment physical. Requires lifting 15-44 pounds; pushing (approx. 2 hours); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers and both hands; walking and standing from 3-5 hours and kneeling. Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4. Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other. Must have depth perception and ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors. Hearing aid is permitted.

Contacts

• Address VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System 2200 SW Gage Blvd Topeka, KS 66622 US
• Name: Jeffrey Richter
• Phone: 9137319960
• Email: [email protected]