Summary

The VA North Texas Health Care System is seeking a full-time Medical Ophthalmologist to join their team. The ophthalmologist will perform primary clinical and minor surgical duties and expected to treat a wide variety of general ophthalmic conditions to include eyes at the Ft. Worth VA Clinic. A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized to highly qualified candidates. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP)

Qualifications

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 physician(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.

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
• Education: Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in medicine or osteopathic medicine
• The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed
• Licensure and Registration: Current - full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State - Territory - or Commonwealth of the United States - or in the District of Columbia
• Residency Training: Physicians must have completed residency training - approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification
• (NOTE: VA physicians involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status.) Approved residencies are: Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) - b) OR Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) -OR Other residencies (non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States) - which the local Medical Staff Executive Committee deems to have provided the applicant with appropriate professional training and believes has exposed the physician to an appropriate range of patient care experiences
• Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and who would otherwise meet the basic requirements for appointment are eligible to be appointed as "Physician Resident Providers" (PRPs)
• PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (i.e. - not a training license) and may only be appointed on an intermittent or fee-basis
• PRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged
• rather - they are to have a "scope of practice" that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision
• Additionally - surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs
• Physical Requirements: See outlined below
• English Language Proficiency
• Physicians 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)
• Preferred Experience: Board Certified in Ophthalmology Actively practicing clinical and minor surgical Ophthalmology care
• Experience in providing direct ophthalmology resident supervision in both clinical and minor operative setting
• Experience in serving in a leadership position
• Reference: VA Regulations - specifically VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard
• This can be found in the local Human Resources Office
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds) - light carrying (under 15 pounds) - pushing - reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - walking - standing - both legs requires
• hearing (aid permitted)

Duties

• The Ophthalmologist functions as an integral part of the eye care team - examining the human eye and ascertaining defects of the human visual system
• Duties will include but not limited to: Function as independent providers with a Memorandum of Understanding with Ophthalmology for glaucoma - diabetes - and macular degeneration
• Primary eye and vision care services consist of: prescribing glasses and contact lenses - ordering diagnostic imaging and laboratory studies
• determining a diagnosis - creating a treatment plan and patient and family health education
• Components of primary ophthalmic eye and vision care include: emergency care (evaluating/managing/triaging emergent - non-surgical eye conditions)
• problem oriented care (managing patients referred with complaints typical of routine disorders)
• preventive health services (performing mandated examinations such as diabetic retinopathy macular degeneration and glaucoma screenings)
• Clinical procedures include: medical and ocular history
• visual acuity measurement
• pupillary function testing
• color vision testing
• extraocular muscle function and binocularity testing
• refractive and accommodative testing
• external examination of the eye and adnexal structures
• biomicroscopic evaluation of the ocular adnexa - anterior - and/or posterior segments of the eye - including gonioscopic and fundus lens evaluation
• opthalmoscopic - tonometric - and perimetric evaluations
• Administrative or patient care duties as assigned
• The Ophthalmologist will be supervised by the Chief of the Ophthalmology at Dallas VA Medical Center for quality - productivity and adherence to performance measures
• Productivity ranges expected are minimum of 16 complete exams per day on the average
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.) VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Pay: Competitive salary - annual performance bonus - regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) 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