Optometrist

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program.

** Recruitment Incentive**

VA Northern Indiana Health Care System complexity level 2 facility. The Marion campus offers a full range of Mental Health, Geriatric and Extended Care Services in addition to Primary and Specialty Outpatient Care. Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCS) located in Mishawaka, Huntington, Peru and Muncie Indiana

Qualifications:

To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation.

Basic Requirements:

• 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)

• 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 (VA) 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 Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed.

• Licensure/Registration: Optometrists must possess a current, full and unrestricted license to practice optometry, and maintain a current registration in a state, territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia that requires successful passage of all parts of National Board of Examiners in Optometry intended for basic licensure. The Optometrist must maintain current registration in the state of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active, current licensure.

• Residency Training or Comparable Experience: Optometrists must have successfully completed residency training, approved by the Secretary of VA in an accredited post-graduate training program, or have comparable experience, as described below:

• 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 Two years of licensed clinical optometric practice in the United States consisting of active involvement in the management of medically complex patients.

• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Responsibilities:

• Provide vision care to legally blind/visually impaired patients as appropriate.
• Prescribing ocular prosthetic devices (spectacles, prisms, and low vision aids.)
• Collaborate with blind rehabilitation specialists (BRS) and visual impairment services team (VIST) coordinators on treatment plans for patients.
• Provide consultative reports to requesting primary care physicians, staff, and specialists.
• Refer patients requiring care outside scope of optometry practice.
• Provide administrative support to service.
• Timely documentation (notes and encounter forms) is necessary in all areas in accordance with facility policy. All administrative work will be completed in a timely fashion.
• All VA requirements must be met on a timely basis including computer security training, customer service training and cultural/diversity training.
• The staff optometrist demonstrates courtesy and professionalism and a positive attitude toward Veterans, co-workers, and the public.
• The staff optometrist identifies Veteran concerns and applies discernment and sensitivity when performing tasks required to resolve issues accurately and timely. She/he facilitates any necessary follow-up to ensure satisfactory resolution of problems.
• The staff optometrist will utilize computerized programs to enter, modify and retrieve sensitive information in the form of electronic medical records. Patient confidentiality will be always maintained per HIPPA requirements.
• The staff optometrist works in a proficient and self-directed manner to accomplish all clinical and administrative duties.

This is a traveling position and will be required to travel to other NIHCS VHA locations based on clinic needs.

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
Work Schedule: 730-4pm
Recruitment Incentive: Approved
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application.

Salary : $1,000