Job opening: Optometrist
Salary: $69 107 - 177 978 per year
Published at: Nov 30 2023
Employment Type: Full-time
The VA San Francisco Health Care System is recruiting for a highly qualified and motivated Optometrist to service at the Eureka VA Clinic.
Duties
**This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2024. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be December 15, 2023 with subsequent cut-off dates every 2 weeks. Eligible applications received after that date will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available.**
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00AM-4:00PM
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
The mission of the Ophthalmology Section of the San Francisco VA Health Care System is to serve the needs of America's veterans by providing the highest quality eye care. To accomplish this goal, optometrists practicing within the Ophthalmology Section need to be:
Fully integrated into the interdisciplinary healthcare team, proving the full scope of optometric services based on education, training, licensure and competency
Providing care in the most cost-effective manner while assuring adequate access, practicing evidenced based principles, and maintaining a high level of patient satisfaction
SCOPE OF PRACTICE: Optometry is the healthcare profession that specializes in the diagnosis and nonsurgical management of disorders of the eye, ocular adnexa, and visual system. Services provided by an optometrist include the following:
Examination of the eye, lids, adnexa and visual system
Diagnosis, management, and treatment of refractive errors and abnormalities of binocular function
Prescription of ophthalmic prosthetic devices including spectacle lenses, contact lenses, and low vision devices
Treatment and management of diseases and disorders of the eye, eyelids, adnexa and the glaucomas,
Prescription of all topical ophthalmic pharmaceutical agents and oral pharmaceutical agents limited to antibiotics, antivirals, antihistamines, non steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, non-opioid analgesics, vitamins and minerals
Removal of superficial conjunctiva! and corneal foreign bodies
Epilation of eyelashes
Dilation and irrigation of the nasolacrimal system
Utilization of ancillary testing including ocular photography, ultrasonography, ocular coherence tomography, corneal topography, and biometry
Order of appropriate laboratory and radiology testing
Acquisition of corneal and conjunctiva! cultures
Consultation, referral and co-management of appropriate patients with ophthalmologists and other physician subspecialists as outlined by the specific care coordination agreements of the San Francisco VA Medical Center
Services provided an optometrist may include, but are not limited to the following:
Outpatient optometric services
Inpatient optometric services
Ongoing prevention, in-service, and patient education programs
Maintenance and upkeep of clinic logs, patient medical charts, and other documents necessary to the operation of the Ophthalmology Section clinics
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
United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
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.
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.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
Grade Determinations:
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 on 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.
References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-5 Optometrist Qualification Standard
Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 pounds), light carrying (under 15 pounds), use of fingers, both hands required, walking (2 hours), standing (8 hours), repeated bending (8 hours), ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable to 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20, depth perception, hearing (aid permitted), emotional/mental stability, unusual fatigue factors resulting from long hours on-call, protracted or irregular hours of work.
Contacts
- Address San Francisco VA Medical Center
4150 Clement Street
San Francisco, CA 94121
US
- Name: David Martinez
- Phone: (650) 643-9856
- Email: [email protected]
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