RESIDENCY IN PRIMARY EYE CARE
   FAYETTEVILLE VAMC

Each of the Primary Eye Care Residencies co-sponsored by a Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Northeastern State University 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 Primary Eye Care residents also spend time at Chester Pheiffer Optometry Clinic at W. W. Hastings Indian Health Service Hospital and Northeastern State University College of Optometry to acquire exposure to patients of other demographics.

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.

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.

Compensation is provided to the resident at $30,099 per year.

Residents have the opportunity to choose plans and purchase health insurance through the VA. Information regarding the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program can be found at www.opm.gov/insure/health and information regarding the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program can be found at www.opm.gov/insure/life/

Residents are provided leave benefits. Residents receive a total of 13 days of vacation and 13 days of sick leave accrued over the term of the residency year. They accrue annual leave (which includes personal time and bereavement leave) and sick leave, each at the rate of 4.0 hours every two weeks. The VA is closed for 10 federal holidays a year. Residents also receive professional leave to attend continuing education meetings. A total of four days of professional leave is offered to encourage attendance at CE courses.

Professional liability insurance is provided for the resident. The insurance(s) cover the resident while providing care as a resident at VA Fayetteville and NSU-OCO clinics.

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