Optometrist

Job Title

Optometrist

Duties

The Optometrist works as a member of a multi-disciplinary care team collaborating with other members of the team to provide medical care to Veterans. Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provide outpatient vision care to all veterans, including those who may be legally blind/visually impaired patients as appropriate.
• Prescribe ocular prosthetic devices (spectacles, prisms).
• Consistently demonstrate expertise in diagnosing and managing wide range of ophthalmic conditions, to include cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye, ocular emergencies, and other acute or urgent ocular conditions.
• Demonstrate expertise in ophthalmic imaging and interpretation of results.
• Support tele-eye efforts by requesting tele-retinal images when appropriate and making clinical recommendations based on diagnostic reports.
• Collaborate regularly with Optometry and Ophthalmology at the MKE, APP and GRB Eye Clinics for Veterans' needs and service support.
• Work collaboratively with other disciplines to provide integrated care services. Provide consultative reports, as well as refer patients as indicated to primary care physicians, staff, and specialists.
• Contribute to the teaching, supervising and administration of optometric externship programs.
• Provide administrative support to service.
• Timely document notes and encounter forms in all areas, in accordance with facility policy. All administrative work will be completed in a timely fashion.
• Keep informed of developments in the management and treatment of diseases and illness through continuing education - both formal and informal.
• Participate in OPPE (Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation) and other peer review activities when requested.
• Revise work schedules and assignments on short notice to meet unpredictable changes in workloads and/or deadlines, to meet the needs of the Veteran and facility performance targets.
• Meet all VA requirements on a timely basis including computer security training, customer service training and cultural/diversity training.
• Demonstrate courtesy and professionalism and a positive attitude toward Veterans, co-workers, and the public.
• Identify Veteran concerns and apply 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.
• 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.