Staff Optometrist

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

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

The Optometrist is a full member of the eye care team and functions as an independent practitioner, exercising initiative and judgment in day-to-day activities. The Optometrist is responsible for seeing patients in the outpatient setting. Responsibilities include performing eye care and ancillary testing with full exercise of their credentials and clinical privileges. The Optometrist also assists with teaching medical students who rotate through the VA Health Care System and provides ongoing patient and family education throughout the course of treatment.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Enters accurate, complete, timely progress notes for each episode of care into the patient's electronic record. This is accomplished by utilizing the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS).
• Responsible for the proper use, maintenance, and calibration of specialized equipment used in the assessment and care of patients. He/she demonstrates knowledge and maintains standards in the use and reprocessing of Reusable Medical Equipment (RME).
• Assists in the orientation of new staff and provides patient and family education, including informed consent.
• Adheres to safety, health, and infection control standards, regulations and work practices, as well as ergonomic standards. He/she reports any unsafe conditions to supervisor and/or appropriate officials.
• Expected to participate in performance improvement activities, disaster preparedness, administrative duties, and other responsibilities assigned by the Surgery/Specialty Care Chief, Chief of Optometry, or BHHCS Executive Team.
• Considers the age of the patient when performing health care as it relates to functional capacity/limitations, ability to understand and follow directions, provide objective self-assessment of past medical condition and treatment appropriate to the overall treatment goals and plans.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

Work Schedule: Monday - Thursday, Part-Time 8:00am - 4:30pm or Full-Time 7:30am - 6:00pm
Compressed/Flexible: Compressed tour is available for full-time only.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 optometrist(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.

Optometrist Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. ~AND~
• 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. ~AND~
• Licensure: 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. ~AND~
• Residency Training or Comparable Experience: 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. ~AND~

• English Language Proficiency: Proficiency in spoken and written English.

Staff Optometrist Requirements: 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 https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Daily intermittent walking, standing, bending, stooping, reaching, and carrying of lightweight items required. Rigid deadlines and need for high degree of accuracy periodically become stressful.

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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.