Job opening: Optometrist
Salary: $72 553 - 186 854 per year
Published at: Feb 13 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
The Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) is seeking a Full Time Physician (Optometrist) located in North Little Rock with rotating visits to it's Hot Springs, Conway and Little Rock campuses.
Duties
The Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) consists of two inpatient campuses located at Little Rock and North Little Rock and eight Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCS). Little Rock is the capital city of Arkansas, located in the central part of the state. Little Rock has earned a reputation among history buffs, foodies, and art lovers as an exciting place to live. Residents can spend their weekend exploring the historic Arkansas State Capitol, wandering through the Arkansas Art Center, or enjoying, the beautiful Ozark Mountains.
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.
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 to include but not limited to:
~ Incumbent duties will include diagnosing, treating, and managing patients with ophthalmologic diseases per standard, usual and acceptable or customary methods and techniques in the outpatient setting.
~ The incumbent will use ophthalmic testing instruments and equipment in the performance of direct patient care to provide General Optometry services for scheduled appointments, walk-ins, and add-in patients.
~ Perform clinical duties/procedures within the approved scope of practice.
~ Teach and oversees optometric students who are rotating in the North Little Rock optometry clinic.
~ He/she will report to the Section Chief, Optometry Section or his designee. Ophthalmology, sub-specialists, other physicians, and fellow staff optometrists are available for consultation.
~ He/she will be able to participate in coordination of care with other specialties within CAVHS.
~ The candidate shall be expected to cooperate with and participate in optometric duties or functions related to quality of care, peer review, improvement and with other performance improvement activities at the direction of the Section Chief Optometry, Surgery Service, and the Chief of Staff.
~ The incumbent may also be involved in program planning, objectives, policies, and standards essential to delivery of quality optometric care.
~ Responsible for providing appropriate education for the patient and/or family members regarding the patient's illness and management.
~ Other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:00am to 3:30pm with 25% rotation to Hot Springs, Conway, Little Rock Campus.
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.
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:
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.
Preferred Experience:
~ ACOE accredited residency training
~ Experience teaching and supervising Optometry Students
~ Clinical experience to function independently in an ambulatory care setting.
Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-5, Optometrist Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.
Physical Requirements: Light-heavy lifting and carrying over 45 pounds, Pushing/standing 8 hours, repeated bending 2 hours, both legs required, 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, mental and emotional stability.
Environmental Factors: Excessive noise, working closely with others, working alone, protracted or irregular hours of work.
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 John L McClellan Memorial Veterans' Hospital
4300 West Seventh Street
Little Rock, AR 72205
US
- Name: Brandon Bulen
- Phone: 479-409-9143
- Email: [email protected]
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