Residency in Primary Eye Care - Thomas E. Creek VAMC, Amarillo TX

Each of the Primary Eye Care Programs co-sponsored by a Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Northeastern State University Oklahoma's College of Optometry is designed to provide advanced clinical training in ocular disease diagnosis and management, and primary care.

In the Primary Eye Care Programs, each resident works as an integral part of a multi-disciplinary team in providing patient care. At the VAMC programs, the patient population is primarily geriatric. The Thomas E. Creek Primary Eye Care resident also spends time at the Oklahoma College of Optometry and the Chester Pheiffer Optometry Clinic at Cherokee Nation Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah, OK. These clinics provide exposure to a diverse patient population.

Opportunities exist for the residents to become involved in teaching optometry students, optometrists, and other health professionals. Submission of a research paper, literature review, or case report of publishable quality is also required.

Applicants must be citizens of the United States.
Residents are required to obtain licensure in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia before completion of the first year of VA residency.

The residency program begins on July 1 of each year and is a 12 month program concluding on June 30 of the following year. Expected weekly hours of duty are 40 hours per week plus additional time for weekly didactic resident seminars. Attendance of continuing education and research may lengthen the weekly hours of duties.

As a member of the eye clinic team, the resident will be assigned call and expected to maintain availability for emergency department after-hour consultative patient care. Call is assigned on a rotational basis with other vision care providers within our hospital. The resident will also be offered the opportunity to take advantage of after-hour emergency-focused patient care opportunities as they develop when not on call. At all times, the resident will maintain consultative communication with a hospital privileged attending staff physician.

The Amarillo VA Eye Clinic is open for patient care Monday through Thursday from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm and Fridays from 7:30am to 12:00pm, with the exception of federal holidays. Friday afternoons are blocked out for administrative, didactic, and professional development activities. The resident is expected to be on-site during business hours Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 4:00pm with the exception of a 1 hour lunch from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. Every scheduling attempt is made to promote the completion of the daily tour by 4:00pm. Attendance of continuing education may lengthen the weekly hours of duties.

Compensation is provided to the resident at $31,965 per year.

The resident is offered health care benefits.
Federal Employee Health Benefits Program Information
Federal Employee Group Life Insurance Program Information
Questions regarding the Federal Employees Health Befits Program and the Federal Employee Group Life Insurance Program should be directed to:

  • Office of Personnel Management
    1900 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20415-1000
    202-606-1800
    TTY 202-606-2532

Leave benefits consist of thirteen days of annual leave and thirteen days of sick leave. Residents are also provided ten federal holidays during the residency year.

The Federal Tort Claims Act provides the resident professional liability protection while providing patient care as a component of the residency. This includes patient care at the VAMC, NSUOCO and Cherokee Nation Hastings Hospital.

Specific requirements are in place for program completion and awarding of the Certificate of Advanced Clinical Competence. The requirements are as follows:

  • Completed publishable quality paper (research paper, literature review, or case report)
  • Submission of all residency evaluation forms including:
    • Patient Encounter Logs with encounter types
    • Residency Activity Logs
    • Exit evaluations (Evaluation of Clinical Supervisors, Evaluation of Residency Program Supervisor, Evaluation of NSUOCO Residency Director and, Residency Program Evaluation)
  • Successful completion of NBEO Part I, II and III including TMOD.

About VA Optometry Residency Programs
About Amarillo VA
ASCO Information Sheet
E-mail the Amarillo VAMC Residency Supervisor,  David Trout O.D.

Student Chris Tran performing gonio exam.
 

 

Primary Eye Care Residencies

Mission, Goals, Objectives

Mission

The mission of the Residency in Primary Eye Care is to provide advanced clinical training for post-graduate optometrists with emphasis in ocular disease and primary care, allowing residents upon completion of the program to pursue professional opportunities which require a high level of clinical expertise.

Goal A

Provide appropriately supervised clinical educational experiences with emphasis in ocular disease and primary care.

Objectives:

  • Provide the resident a large number of patient encounters.
  • Provide the resident exposure to a high diversity of clinical conditions within ocular disease and primary care.
  • Encourage appropriate referral and co-management of patients with other health care providers.
  • Allow the resident to participate in the clinical supervision of optometry students.

Goal B

Stimulate scholarly development in the resident.

Objectives:

  • Encourage lecture and workshop presentations in the form of continuing education, grand rounds, optometry classroom, etc.
  • Stimulate life-long learning by keeping the resident active in critically reviewing ophthalmic literature.
  • Allow the resident to attend continuing education courses.
  • Require completion of a research paper, literature review, or case report of publishable quality by the end of the residency program.

Goal C

Stimulate a commitment to service in the resident.

Objectives:

  • Enhance the resident's active involvement in the optometric community by encouraging membership and participation in optometric organizations.