Staff Optometrist
What you'd do
VA Black Hills Health Care System is seeking a part-time (32 hours/week) Staff Optometrist to care for our Veterans at the Hot Springs VA Medical Center. The Optometrist is aligned with the Surgery/Specialty Care Service. The Optometrist is a full member of the eye care team and functions as an independent practitioner, exercising initiative and judgment in day-to-day activities. The Optometrist is responsible for seeing patients in the outpatient setting.
Major duties
The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. The Staff Optometrist is responsible for seeing patients in the outpatient setting. Responsibilities include performing eye care and ancillary testing with full exercise of their credentials and clinical privileges. The Optometrist also assists with teaching medical students who rotate through the VA Health Care System and provides ongoing patient and family education throughout the course of treatment. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Enters accurate, complete, timely progress notes for each episode of care into the patient's electronic record. This is accomplished by utilizing the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS). Responsible for the proper use, maintenance, and calibration of specialized equipment used in the assessment and care of patients. He/she demonstrates knowledge and maintains standards in the use and reprocessing of Reusable Medical Equipment (RME). Assists in the orientation of new staff and provides patient and family education, including informed consent. Adheres to safety, health, and infection control standards, regulations and work practices, as well as ergonomic standards. He/she reports any unsafe conditions to supervisor and/or appropriate officials. Expected to participate in performance improvement activities, disaster preparedness, administrative duties, and other responsibilities assigned by the Surgery/Specialty Care Chief, Chief of Optometry, or BHHCS Executive Team. Considers the age of the patient when performing health care as it relates to functional capacity/limitations, ability to understand and follow directions, provide objective self-assessment of past medical condition and treatment appropriate to the overall treatment goals and plans. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Work Schedule: Monday - Thursday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
What you need to qualify
Optometrist 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. ~AND~ 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. ~AND~ Licensure: Current, full and unrestricted license to practice optometry in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. ~AND~ Residency Training or Comparable Experience: Successfully completed residency training, approved by the Secretary of VA in an accredited post-graduate training program, or have comparable experience, as described below: (1) Approved residencies are those with accredited or within pre-accredited status by the ACOE, in the list published for the year the residency was completed. OR (2) Two years of licensed clinical optometric practice in the United States consisting of active involvement in the management of medically complex patients. ~AND~ English Language Proficiency: Proficiency in spoken and written English. Staff Optometrist Requirements: None beyond the basic requirements. The individual must possess the experience to perform general optometry duties, including clinical oversight of trainees as needed, and some specialized functions and procedures without supervision. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Daily intermittent walking, standing, bending, stooping, reaching, and carrying of lightweight items required. Rigid deadlines and need for high degree of accuracy periodically become stressful.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
Don't miss the next one.
Get an email the moment a similar federal job opens — postings can close in as little as 5 days.