Career Center

Summary

The Omaha VA medical center is seeking an Ophthalmologist - Retina Specialist to join the Ophthalmology Section of the Surgery Service. The physician functions within an interdisciplinary staff consisting of physicians - optometrists - health technicians - administrative and clerical staff and is responsible and accountable for ensuring the provision of comprehensive surgical/clinical services and complies with established policies within the Department of Surgery/Ophthalmology section.

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
• Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic 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
• 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: (1) Those approved by the accrediting bodies for graduate medical education - the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - in the list published for the year the residency - or fellowship if applicable - was completed
• OR (2) One year of post medical school training (internship - first year of residency - or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States
• OR (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement) - 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
• Exceptions: 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 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
• In rare and unusual circumstances - the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer - who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience - accomplishments - performance - and qualifications warrant such action
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Additional Requirement: Board Eligible or Board-Certified Ophthalmologist Preferred Experience: Comprehensive Ophthalmologist with skills in basic Retina including Intraocular Injections
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform all the activities of the position without restrictions
• This position may involve Heavy lifting (45 lbs and over)
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers
• walking (3 hours per day)
• standing (6 hours per day)
• kneeling (2 hours per day)
• ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• near vision correctable at 13" to 16"
• far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other
• ability to distinguish basic colors
• hearing (aid permitted)
• You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• 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 Ophthalmologist - Retina Specialist will perform primary clinical and surgical duties
• The incumbent will be expected to manage and treat a wide variety of ophthalmic conditions to include anterior and posterior segment diseases - glaucoma - diabetic retinal disorders - macular degeneration - and some ophthalmic neurological disorders
• The candidate selected will be required to provide retina subspecialty ophthalmologic care
• Duties will include providing a full spectrum of eye care including but not limited to: - Retina Surgery- membrane peels - vitrectomies - retinal detachments - macular degeneration - retinal injections - Assessing and examining patients to diagnose and develop treatment plans
• - Performing surgical procedures related to injuries and diseases of the eye and the visual system
• - Performing surgeries with YAG - SLT - and/or Argon lasers
• - Managing medical disorders affecting vision - such as inflammatory - vascular - neurological and genetic disorders - thyroid eye disease - diabetes and strokes
• - The Ophthalmologist will be responsible for all patient orders including laboratory - imaging - pharmacy - prosthetics - and consults for specialty care to be completed through CPRS
• - Ophthalmologist will see patients individually and/or operate independently as well as staff resident clinics and staff residents in the operating room
• - Open encounter and open consult maintenance - CPRS documentation requirements - and monitoring of clinic management
• Maintains involvement in matters concerning clinic productivity - relevant performance measures - Quality and Patient Safety oversight - as well as process improvements (system redesigns)
• - The Ophthalmologist will establish professional working relationships with other clinical service providers within the center and outlying Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) - providing telephone and e-consult consultations as needed and screening consults that are received for appropriateness prior to scheduling
• The selected candidate will participate in a call pool with other same-specialty providers
• The incumbent will report to the Section Chief - Eye Surgery Service or his designee
• - The Ophthalmologist shall be expected to cooperate with and participate in medical duties or functions related to quality of care - peer review - improvement and with other performance improvement activities at the direction of the Section Chief - Surgery Chief Service and the Chief of Staff
• - Show effectiveness in teaching and supervision of ophthalmology residents and assist in coordinating educational activities
• comply with necessary trainee supervision requirements
• - The ophthalmologist will take Attending call afterhours and weekends - The incumbent directly reports to the Chief of Eye Care Services
• - Attend required staff meetings - communicate up and down the chain of command - assist in managing any surgical or clinical issues that arise within the service and at the direction of the Section Chief
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Pay: Competitive salary - annual performance bonus - regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of annual paid time offer 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 Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Work Schedule: Part-time 15-20 hours per week