Staff Optometrist (Polytrauma)

Summary

Optometry Service of the Veterans Health Administration -South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) serves the needs of America's veterans by providing the highest quality care. We accomplish this via, 1) Fully integrated interdisciplinary health care teams, 2) the emphasizing the prevention and wellness as the overriding philosophy of practice, and 3) by providing care in the most cost-effective manner while assuring adequate access and maintaining high-level patient satisfaction.

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Duties

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The Polytrauma Staff Optometrist is responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with medical diseases, and refractive problems accomplished through ambulatory and bed-based resources assigned to Optometry. S/he must actively participate in patient care, conferences, consultations, ambulatory care of patients, and other similar activities.

Primary duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• optometric care of inpatient and outpatient active duty members and veterans who have suffered
  • polytrauma traumatic brain injury (TBI),
  • acquired brain injury (ABI) and
  • visual deficits of acquired neurological disease
• participation in the interdisciplinary teams to improve the overall quality of life of these patients
• treatment and rehabilitation of post-traumatic visual disturbances
• assistance to patients with adjustment and re-integration into community and family life
• Polytrauma Optometry Resident supervision and management
• coordination and optometry consultation throughout the medical center for Polytrauma Optometry services
• assistance with the selection and development of other Optometrists to insure education experiences of Optometry are of the quality and quantity expected by relevant accrediting bodies
• representation of the Optometry Section and Polytrauma Optometry (when called upon) for important medical center committees with influence on patient care, teaching and research
• administratively ensuring relevant documentation is completed in the specified time frames while working to meet organizational goals, etc.

EDRP : Not Authorized

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized

Work Schedule: TBD (Typically 0730-1600 CST, M-F)

Telework : Available on an Ad-hoc (as needed) basis

Virtual : This is not a virtual position.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

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.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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.

Pre-Employment/Post-Employment Physical Examination: May be required, depending on the needs of the organization

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.

Staff Optometrist Basic Requirements - To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following:

• Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.) in accordance with section 7402(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).
• 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).
• 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.
• 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.
  • Two years of licensed clinical optometric practice in the United States consisting of active involvement in the management of medically complex patients.
• Licensure and 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.

Licensure 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.

Grandfathering Provision. Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the

qualification standard, are considered to have met all basic requirements for the occupation. This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/

placements.

Additional Requirements - 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

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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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.