Optometrist

<p>The VA NWIHCS is hiring one full-time Optometrist - Operations Officer - for the Surgery Service.</p><h3>Major Duties</h3><p>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 Operations Officer, Surgery Service, serves as the operational leader responsible for designing, analyzing, and leading models that align patient demand, clinic capacity, and organizational priorities to improve access, efficiency, and system performance across the Surgical Service Line. Functions in triad partnership with the Chief of Surgery and Administrative Officer, serving as the operational authority for clinical systems design and operational optimization across Surgical Service. Leads system-level design and optimization of clinical operational systems across surgical specialties, in close administrative coordination with the Administrative Officer for alignment with fiscal, HR, procurement, and compliance processes without assuming administrative management authority. This role serves as the centralized authority for surgical service line operations, integrating system design and performance visibility across specialties to align patient demand, clinic capacity, and operational priorities while informing system-wide strategy and resource alignment. Operates at the service-level leadership scope to support surgical specialties. This position is structured as a hybrid clinical and operational leadership role with protected administrative time to support operational responsibilities. 50% Operational Leadership (protected administrative time) 50% Clinical Care (in specialty) Develops and drives clinical-operational models aligning patient demand, clinic capacity, and workforce utilization; accountable for system design, with implementation executed in coordination with the Administrative Officer and service leadership. Clinical Responsibilities: The Optometrist is responsible for seeing patients in the outpatient setting. Performing comprehensive eye care, including but not limited to: - Refractions - Diagnoses, treatment, and management of diseases and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures, as well as diagnoses-related systemic conditions. - Diagnostic evaluations of visual disorders, including but not limited to diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration and routine eye examinations. - Reads visual field tests, optical coherence tomography, corneal topography - Assists with teaching optometry and medical students who rotate to the VA Health Care System. - Provide patient and family education, including informed consent. - The incumbent is responsible for entering accurate, complete, timely progress notes for each episode of care into the patient's electronic record in Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS). - Proper use, maintenance, and calibration of specialized equipment used in the assessment and care of patients. - Maintains supplies, equipment and clinical areas to optimize safety and efficiency. - He/she demonstrates knowledge and maintains standards in the use and reprocessing of Reusable Medical Equipment (RME). The Optometrist is to practice in accordance with VA guidelines; Nebraska Western Iowa HealthCare System policies/procedures; medical staff bylaws, rules and regulations; and in accordance with current Joint Commission standards. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Full-time M-F, 8:00am-4:30pm. Specific work schedule will be provided by supervisor. Telework: This is not a telework position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required</p><h3>Requirements</h3>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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. You may be required to serve a probationary period. 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.<h3>Education</h3>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/.