The Amarillo VA Health Care System is currently recruiting for (2) Optometrist for the Lubbock VA Clinic to provide professional care to Optometry patients.

Duties

The Optometrist will evaluate clinic patients with a wide variety of eye care needs. He/she will provide care delineated in the clinical privilege for Optometrists. This will include, but is not limited to: Examination of the eye, lids, adnexa, and the visual system provide basic low vision evaluation and services diagnosis, management treatment of refractive conditions, binocular function, ocular disease and conditions ocular complication of system and ocular complications of systemic disorders. The Optometrist will be expected to provide high quality and efficient eye care in a multidisciplinary health care team setting and additional functions: Clinical - responsible for examining, diagnosing and performing specific optometric treatments for conditions of the vision system. Treat eye condition by prescribing and adapting spectacle lenses, contact lenses, optical aids, as well low vision rehabilitation. Orders an interprets laboratory, radiographic and other imaging studies as appropriate to the optometric discipline. Referrals of patients to other ophthalmology subspecialties and/or health professionals for further diagnosis and treatments as needed. Educational - acts as a teacher and mentor to physicians and technicians in appropriate examination, eye care and management of ocular diseases. Also acts as the exclusive source for the dissemination of information regarding optometry to patients seen within the facility. Administrative - Planning, coordinating and exercising professional judgement in initiating and implementing administrative and clinical decisions. The Optometrist maintains channels of communication between optometry and all other clinical and administrative services, tertiary VA facilities, community hospitals, and area ophthalmologist to ensure that all Veterans need optometric services will be able to access them to the greatest degree possible. Assures compliance with accrediting agencies and with medical staff by laws, rules, policies and regulations. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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: 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 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 - 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) Preferred Experience: Board Certified/Board Eligible Optometrist Four years of optometric practice or its equivalent Diagnosis and treatment of unusual and complicated visual dysfunctions Diagnose and treat ocular disease Use corneal diagnostic modalities, such as slit lamp, topography, pachymetry, photography, and confocal microscopy to detect, characterize, and document corneal pathologies Grade Determinations:In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates 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 all the requirements 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 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: 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. Has had responsibility for carrying out a major optometric program segment on a national level. 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. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: Walking, bending, stooping, standing for extended periods of time, twisting, turning, sitting, repetitive keyboarding, and carrying of heavy items. Pushing and pulling of dialysis equipment.

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.

Note: If your school has changed names, or is not longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. If your school was accredited by the Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association, but is not longer on the website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

Contacts

• Address Thomas E Creek VA Medical Center 6010 Amarillo Boulevard, West Amarillo, TX 79106 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]