The Optometrist functions as an integral part of the eye care team. They are responsible for participating in all aspects of the Optometry program, including clinical, administrative & academic components. They manage patient care responsibilities with available staffing. Optometrists report directly to & work in collaboration with the Chief of Surgery in the clinical & administrative functions to support the mission, goals & objectives of the facility.

Duties

The optometrist will be responsible for providing direct patient care to our esteemed population of veterans. Their duties will include, but not be limited to: Delivering high quality primary eye & vision care services; examining for and prescribing corrective lens, ordering diagnostic imaging and laboratory studies; preparing referrals for diagnosis, treatment & management of systemic and ocular conditions revealed through optometric examination. Providing patient and family education regarding ocular health issues. Providing emergency care, evaluating/managing/triaging emergent, non-surgical eye conditions; problem-oriented care, managing patients referred with complaints typical of routine eye care disorders; preventive health services, performing mandated examinations such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma screenings. Performing clinical procedures, such as: medical and ocular history, visual acuity measurement, pupillary function testing, color vision testing, extraocular muscle function and binocularity testing, refractive and accommodative testing, external examination of the eye and adnexal structures, biomicroscopic evaluation of the ocular/anterior/posterior segments of the eye, including fundus lens evaluation. Collaborating with other optometrists, ophthalmologists, nursing staff, technicians and administrators to facilitate operations within the service to meet common goals. Performing the administrative components of patient care management, including timely completion of progress notes, consults and encounters for all patient. The selectee is to have a high level of flexibility and commitment to meet the dynamic needs of an evolving patient care system.-Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Not authorized other than for ad hoc. Duty station is on the main campus Remote: Not authorized Position Description/PD#: Optometrist/PD000000 FLSA: Exempt BU Status: Non-Bargaining Unit Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS): Not authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases. 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). For More Information on Benefits: https://www.vacareers.va.gov/Benefits/EmploymentBenefits Competitive Federal benefits: Job security- Stability Career advancement and priority in hiring as a Federal employee Federal Retirement Survivor Benefits Military buy back toward retirement Leave Benefits: AL (13-26 days), SL (13 days), Paid Federal Holidays (11 days) , Paid Parental Leave 12 wks. FEHB lowest cost FEGLI low cost Flexible Spending accounts Pre-taxed Federal Long Term Care Insurance TSP matching 5% and Pre-tax contributions Child Care subsidy And more

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: All applicants must meet the following basic qualifications. Citizenship. Must be a citizen of the United States. Education. Must have a 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. -OR- (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. You must possess an active, full and unrestricted license to practice optometry in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia; and to maintain a current registration in your State of licensure if this is a requirement of the particular State. English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d) Physical Standards. Must pass a pre-employment examination. See below for additional information. GRADE REQUIREMENTS: In addition to the basic requirements above, all applicants must also meet one of the following grade requirements for a specific grade level. Associate Grade. 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(3) Has achieved a high level of professional attainment 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 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. Reference: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G5 Physical Requirements: Must pass a pre-employment physical examination as required by VA Handbook 5019. This examination is administered by VA Occupational Health. This position requires moderate lifting up to 44 lbs., carrying objects up to 15 lbs., frequent reaching, use of hands and fingers, use of cranes and motor vehicles, walking, standing, bending and climbing. The incumbent must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of this position without hazard to themselves or others.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Printed student grade reports/transcripts will not be accepted.

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.

Contacts

• Address Huntington VA Medical Center 1540 Spring Valley Drive Huntington, WV 25704 US
• Name: James Williams III
• Phone: 410-605-7000
• Email: [email protected]