Optometrist

About the role

The Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System in Charleston, SC, serves over 100,000 Veterans across coastal SC and GA. Highly acclaimed, it is one of the few Level 1A facilities in the nation to achieve a prestigious 5-star rating. The system continuously expands, offering care through its main medical center and multiple community clinics.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive eye care for patients who have illnesses within the scope of Optometry.
• Integrate into the interdisciplinary eye care team, providing the full scope of eye services based on education, training, licensure, and competency.
• Focus on prevention and wellness as the overriding philosophy of practice.
• Achieve cost-effectiveness in patient care while ensuring adequate access and maintaining a high level of quality as measured by patient satisfaction.
• Perform duties related to the position applied for, respecting and following clinical care guidelines provided by the Chief of Ophthalmology clinic.

Requirements

• 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.
• Completed residency training approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification.
• 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.

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine.
• 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.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases.
• 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).
• 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.
• No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.

Pay

Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases.

Schedule

Full-Time, 8:00am - 4:30pm. Work schedule subject to change based on the needs of the service/clinic.

Additional Information

• 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).
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).