Optometrist - Durham, United States - Veterans Health Administration

Description

Summary

The Durham VA is currently looking to hire an Optometrist.

The duties will be performed in the Eye Clinic at Durham Veterans Affairs Health System, Durham, North Carolina or its Community Based Outpatient Centers (CBOCs) or Health Care Centers.

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
• 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
• Optometrist - 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

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 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

References:
VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G5 Optometrist Qualification Standard

• This can be found in the local Human Resources Office

Physical Requirements:
The work is sedentary but requires some bending, walking, standing, pushing and carrying items such as medical records and office supplies

• Some lifting up to 20 pounds may be required when moving medical records with in the clinical areas
• Sometimes, the incumbent may help a patient into and out of the exam chair.

Duties

"Work Schedule: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Monday-Friday Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized.


Telework:
Not Authorized.


Virtual:
This is not a virtual position.


Relocation/Recruitment Incentives:
Not Authorized.


Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required.

Duties:
Visual acuity testing by any method.
Visual field examination; any and all methods.
Color vision examination; any and all methods Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) Pachymetry.
Corneal topography.
Biomicroscopy; including specular endothelial microscopy.
Gonioscopy; all techniques and methods.
Tonometry; all techniques and methods.
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, topical ocular dyes and staining agents, irrigating solutions, etc.

Differential diagnostic pharmaceutical testing.
Ordering of radiology and laboratory tests, as needed.
Photography; external, funduscopic and 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 for restorative purposes, etc.

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 Iacrimal punctual plugs using temporary, permanent, or dissolvable plugs.

Placement of amniotic membrane.
Other treatment of dry eye.
Obtaining culturable material from the eye.

Participation in educational and training activities of professional students, ophthalmic technicians, medical staff and other learners in the health system.

Participation in research projects, in accordance with VA policy Referral to, and consultation with, other healthcare providers.
Conduct of regular peer reviews in accordance with the quality assurance program.
Completion of electronic consults.

The optometrist will be responsible to ensure that all documentation is completed in a timely manner according to the VA guidelines by the end of each clinic day.

All progress notes should be entered in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS).
All patient-related orders should be entered in CPRS as per VA guidelines.
The incumbent interacts with all levels of provider, administrative, and clerical staff within the VA medical center.

The incumbent must exercise a high degree of tact, poise, and diplomacy when working with professional, clerical and administrative personnel within or outside the facility.

Personal contacts are with patients, families, visitors, physicians, nurses, and employees of other medical center services, in addition to personnel of varying levels within the community of health care services.

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