Optometrist (Clinical)

Summary

Serves as a staff optometrist within the Beckley VA Medical Center in Beckley, West Virginia. The incumbent performs direct medical care in their specialty. The individual is responsible for maintenance of the highest standards of professional care in the outpatient management of Optometry patients served by the facility.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Examine eyes, using observation, instruments, and pharmaceutical agents, to determine visual acuity and perception, focus and coordination and to diagnosis diseases and other abnormalities, such as glaucoma or color blindness.
• Analyze test results and develop a treatment plan.
• Prescribe, supply fit and adjust eyeglasses, contact lenses and other vision aids.
• Prescribe medications to treat eye diseases when applicable.
• Educate and counsel patients on contact lens care, visual hygiene, lighting arrangements and safety factors.
• Remove foreign bodies from the eye.
• Provide patients undergoing eye surgeries, such as cataract and laser correction with pre- and post- operative care.
• Consult with and refer patients to Ophthalmologist or other health care practitioner if additional medical treatment is determined necessary.
• Prescribe therapeutic procedures to correct or conserve vision.
• Provide vision therapy and low vision rehabilitation.
• Planning, coordinating, and exercising professional judgement in initiating and implementing administrative and clinical decisions.
• Document and maintain records pertaining to patients.
• Examine, diagnose, and perform specific optometric treatments for conditions of the vision system.
• Exercise independent professional judgment in diagnosing the full range of complex optometric conditions as well as planning and executing the necessary treatment programs to meet complex and frequent changes in the treatment objective.
• Utilize various examination techniques of vision, eye, and related structures to determine the presence of vision anomalies, diseases, and/or other abnormalities; treating eye conditions by prescribing and adapting spectacle lenses, optical aids., etc.; referring patients to other health professionals for further diagnosis and treatments.
• Provide patients undergoing eye surgeries, such as cataract and laser correction with pre- and post- operative care.
• Provide emotional support and comfort to patients and their families during treatment interventions.
• Educate and counsel patients on contact lens care, visual hygiene, lighting arrangements and safety factors.
• Accountable to the Chief of Specialty Integrated Clinical Community, for assuring the most effective delivery of care in Optometry while meeting and exceeding compliance standards.
• Manage patient workload within available staffing, which may include support of health technicians.
• Perform the usual administrative components of patient care management, such as: documentation of progress notes and consultation findings in an electronic medical record, electronic entry, and signature of all orders for inpatients and outpatients, etc.
• Performs other directly related duties as required.

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

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