Serves as a staff optometrist within the Durham VA Medical Center at the Garner VA Medical Center; Garner, NC. Examines, diagnoses, treats diseases and disorders, chronic eye conditions (i.e. cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes, degenerative corneal and retinal diseases,) The Optometrist will provide Optometry care in the outpatient eye clinic for adult and geriatric veterans who have a wide spectrum of optometric conditions.

Duties

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized. Telework: Not Authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Total Rewards: Total Reward$ | VA Careers Duties: The Optometrist duties will be performed in the Eye Clinic at The Garner Veterans Administration Health Care Center, Garner, North Carolina. The Optometrist will be responsible to ensure all documentations are complete according to the VA guidelines by the end of each clinic day. All progress notes should be entered into the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS). All patient related orders should be entered in the CPRS as per VA guidelines. Duties include and are not limited to: Visual acuity testing by any method Visual field examination by any method Color vision examination by any method Optical Coherence Tomography Pachymetry Corneal Topography Biomicroscopy; including specular endothelial microscopy Gonioscopy; all techniques and methods. Tonometry Ophthalmoscopy; all methods Ophthalmic ultrasound; all methods. Refractive, binocular function, and accommodation status testing Ocular motility testing Use of pharmaceuticals for diagnostic purposes, such as mydriatic agents, miotic agents, anesthetic agents, ocular dyes and staining agents, irrigating solutions, etc. Differential diagnostic pharmaceutical testing Ordering of radiology and laboratory tests, as needed. Photography; external, funduscopic slit lamp Prescribing/employing all types and designs of spectacle lenses Prescribing/employing all types of soft and rigid contact lenses including those prescribed for therapeutic (bandage) indications, aphakic and/or other special refractive needs, cosmetic and/or restorative purposes, etc. Maintaining/polishing existing prosthesis. Prescribe contact lens wetting, lubricating, cleaning and disinfecting solutions and products. Prescribe oral medications for the treatment of eye diseases Prescribe topical agents for treatment of diseases of eye and adnexa Removal of conjunctival and corneal foreign bodies Epilation (with forceps) Insertion/removal of lacrimal punctual plugs using temporary, permanent, or dissolvable plugs. Obtaining curable material from the eye. Participation in educational/training activities Participation in research projects, in accordance with VA policy Referral to, and consultation with, other health care providers

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. Optometrist Basic Requirements: Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) 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: (1) 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. 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(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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires mostly periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients/residents who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on stakeholder needs.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Durham VA Medical Center 508 Fulton Street Durham, NC 27705 US
• Name: KARI LEPINE
• Phone: 906-396-9895
• Email: [email protected]