The Overton Brooks VA Medical Center, Surgical Service, Shreveport, LA, has immediate openings for a full-time Optometrist.

Duties

Shreveport offers you the 'lagniappe', which means a little something extra! Shreveport-Bossier City is situated on the Red River in northwest Louisiana. Commonly known as the 'Ark-La-Tex', the point where Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas meet. The Shreveport-Bossier City area is home to Barksdale Air Force Base, as well as numerous colleges and universities, theaters, lakes, golf courses, beautiful housing areas, churches, and great schools. With a population of nearly 400,000 in the city's metropolitan region, the area promises much to do while maintaining a reasonable cost of living and an excellent, temperate climate. You'll enjoy a unique combination of two great American heritages: a little Cajun, and since we're less than 15 minutes from the Texas border, a little Lone Star, too. Shreveport-Bossier boasts elegant Southern charm and a relaxed attitude that suggests you kick your boots off and stay a while to enjoy year-round festivals, Vegas-style gaming, great local dining experiences, live music and family attractions. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be offered to highly-qualified candidate. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory CME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification) Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Major Duties/Responsibilities for this position include but are not limited to: - Diagnosis and management of optical disorders and ocular diseases. Provides or refers for vision rehabilitation services when indicated. Interacts effectively with ophthalmology and other medical specialists in the care of eye conditions with systemic associations. Effectiveness in Emergencies-Acts quickly in recognizing emergency situations, and takes timely necessary action. Patient Management-Maintains confidentiality of patients and relatives through competence and interpersonal skills. Acts as a consultant in involving patients in the optometric treatment and management plan. Consultations and Specialty Skills-Demonstrates the ability to recognize the need for consultation to other facility specialty areas. Record keeping-Maintains clear, accurate, and current clinical records. Completes medical records per hospital regulations. Creates and maintains a patient-centered care environment. Serves as a mentor for students and residents, other employees, and interacts with academic affiliates as needed. Plans and guides their educational activities to meet the individual needs of the learner. Collaborates and coordinates with other professional, technical, and administrative staff. Demonstrates willingness to serve effectively on committees, boards, surveys and audits. Demonstrates belief in each employee by delegating responsibility and authority commensurate with the employee's abilities. Demonstrates ability to plan, organize and coordinate the administrative, clinical, or educational programs by demonstrating leadership skills, knowledge, and competence. Demonstrates accuracy of judgment on and assisting with professional/administrative actions. Demonstrates ability to achieve a balance among administrative tasks, while caring for the patients. Demonstrates effectiveness in communicating verbally in correspondence and reports. Acts to complete reports within time frame set. Demonstrates adherence to personal and professional obligations and responsibilities. Acts in carrying out assignments and keeping appointments. Work Schedule: Between 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: Degree of doctor of optometry resulting from a course of education in optometry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools or colleges approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are:(1) United States and Canadian schools or colleges of optometry listed as accredited by the Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association, in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed.(2) Schools (including foreign schools) accepted by the licensing body of a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia as qualifying for full or unrestricted licensure. Licensure or Registration: Licensed to practice optometry in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Optometrists are required to possess full and unrestricted licensure and to maintain a current registration in their State of licensure if this is a requirement of the particular State. The facility Director may waive this requirement if the optometrist is to serve in a country other than the United States and the optometrist has licensure in that country. English Language Proficiency: Optometrists appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Must have Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. Note: Copy of current certification must be provided prior to establishing entry on duty date. Grade Determinations: Associate: None beyond the basic requirements. 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. 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 advanced instrumentation and treatment techniques. Typically, the program is in an educationally 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. 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. There is such confidence in the optometrist at this level that there is unusual support of the individual's recommendations and conclusions. (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. Examples of such attainment are: (a) Achievement of outstanding results in research which are regarded as having a major impact on advancing the field. (b) Significant number of noteworthy publications in professional journals. Additional requirement: Basic Life support (BLS) certification must be certified through the American Heart Association.

Education

Contacts

• Address Overton Brooks VA Medical Center 510 East Stoner Avenue Shreveport, LA 71101 US
• Name: CALVIN JAGER
• Email: [email protected]