Staff Optometrist

Summary

The position is located at the Richmond VA Medical Center. The Staff Optometrist operates in an ambulatory care setting within the facility. The Staff Optometrist is credentialed and privileged through the Medical Staff Office Supervisor under the auspices of the Chief of Staff IAW Medical Staff Bylaws. Optometry is organizationally part of the Surgery Service Line and input on staff effectiveness and individual Performance Evaluations will be obtained by the Ophthalmology Section Lead.

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Duties

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Major Duties include, but not limited to:

Clinical

• Perform complete and thorough optometric exams and complete all clinical documentation requirements timely (as required).
• Exercises independent professional judgment in diagnosing the full range of complex ophthalmic conditions as well as planning and executing the necessary treatment programs to meet complex and frequent changes in treatment objectives.
• Promotes communication/interactions between Eye Clinic team members, patients, and their families to facilitate the medical treatment process.
• Refers, when indicated, patients with multiple health problems to other providers within the facility and the VISN. Consults with physicians and others, when requested, to augment the care of their patients as it relates to emergent and traumatic conditions as well as ophthalmic manifestations of systemic conditions.
• Utilizes the general clinical privileges which include: ordering diagnostic tests as appropriate, writing prescriptions for medications or other items on the hospital formulary, hospitalize patients within the VISN as appropriate and discharge patients from outpatient care if it is determined that care is no longer required.

Administration

• Participates in clinical and administrative committee assignments at the direction of the Chief of Surgery/ Chief of Ophthalmology. In addition, the incumbent will attend at least 50% of regularly scheduled Staff meetings.
• Participates in any required Performance Improvement programs.
• Assists in the development and implementation of care programs in Optometry Service.
• Participates in the selection of new staff as assigned the Chief of Surgery/ Chief of Ophthalmology.
• Follows accepted infection control and safety procedures as well as other station policy procedures.

Research

• Participates in surveys within the Ophthalmology Section under the auspices of the Surgery Service Line to ascertain patient satisfaction of care provided.
• Participates, where appropriate, in research in basic visual science and clinical optometry to address questions pertaining to anomalies of the human visual system including epidemiological studies, clinical trials and the evaluation of alternative health care delivery systems to enhance patient care.
• Encourages participation in clinical research among other staff members.

Education:

• Participates fully in educational development through staff and section meetings and assumes responsibility for professional development by attending relevant training and regularly reviewing the literature to improve clinical competencies and meeting professional continuing education requirements to maintaining current competence and licensure. Incumbent will attend at least 50% of the regular Medical Staff Meetings.

Performs other duties as assigned.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

Work Schedule: Monday- Friday, 8:00- 4:30 pm

Telework : Not Available

Virtual : This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

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. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.) in accordance with section7402(c) to title 38, United States Code (U.S.C). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. §7407(a).
• 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.. ~AND~
• 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.
• Waiver of Licensure. Licensure requirements may be waived by the Under Secretary for Health or designee in the VHA Central Office for individuals in research, academic, or administrative assignments involving no direct patient care responsibilities in accordance with current regulations. In addition, the facility director may waive this licensure requirement if the Optometrist is to serve in a country other than the United States, and the Optometrist has licensure in that country. (See VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section B, paragraph 14, on waiver of licensure provisions.)
  NOTE : Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the state for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored. See 38 U.S.C. § 7402(f)). This requirement does not apply to licensed Optometrists on VA rolls as of November 30, 1999, provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of state license, registration, or certification.
• 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:
  (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.
  NOTE: The Approving Official may approve, under unusual circumstances, a waiver of residency or comparable experience.
• Physical Requirements . See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.
• English Language Proficiency. Optometrists appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38U.S.C. § 7402(d) and 7407(d).

Preferred Experience: 2 plus years experience in the field

Grade Determinations :

Staff Optometrist . 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

The full performance level of this vacancy is VM-15.

Physical Requirements: This clinical position includes a level of physicality associated with direct patient care. The position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical patient lifts are provided and are to be used to preserve patient and staff safety.

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: 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:

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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