Job opening: Optometrist (Surgical Care)
Salary: $69 107 - 177 978 per year
Published at: Dec 04 2023
Employment Type: Full-time
Doctors of Optometry (O.D.s/optometrists) are the independent primary health care professionals for the eye. Optometrists examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, injuries, and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures as well as identify related systemic conditions affecting the eye.
Duties
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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
Duties and Functions include but are not limited to the following:
Administrative:
Assists in performing performance appraisals on support staff working in the clinic, if applicable.
Completes evaluations on supervised optometry students and residents, if applicable.
Actively participates in regularly scheduled staff meetings.
Complies with all Documentation and Encounter regulations in a timely manner.
Education:
Completes all VA mandatory training in the appropriate time frame.
Participates in CME activities to comply with licensure and credentialing requirements.
Clinical:
Responsible for direct patient care.
Examine and diagnose diseases, injuries, and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures as well as identify related systemic conditions affecting the eye.
Prescribe medications, low vision rehabilitation, vision therapy, spectacle lenses, contact lenses, and perform certain surgical procedures.
Counsel patients regarding surgical and non-surgical options that meet their visual needs related to their occupations, avocations, and lifestyle.
Counsel patients regarding surgical and non-surgical options that meet their visual needs related to their occupations, avocations, and lifestyle.
Interfaces with other medical staff and health care professionals in the medical center in regard to Eye Care.
Other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30am - 4:00pm.
Qualifications
Basic Requirements:
Citizenship. 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:
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.
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. Optometrist (Except Residents). 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.
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).
Grade Determinations:
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:
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.
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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.
References: Optometrist Qualification Standards, VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G5
Physical Requirements: Light lifting, under 15 pounds; Light carrying, under 15 pounds; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid may be permitted); Emotional and Mental stability.
Environmental Factors: Working closely with others; Working alone.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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.
Contacts
- Address Roseburg VA Medical Center
913 Northwest Garden Valley Boulevard
Roseburg, OR 97471
US
- Name: Aaron Dorris
- Phone: (208) 422-1000 X7017
- Email: [email protected]
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