RESIDENCY IN VISION
THERAPY/REHABILITATION
AT
SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY
Program Mission Statement: The Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation Optometry Residency
Program at Southern College of Optometry provides qualified graduate
optometrists with advanced clinical experience in the management of binocular
vision disorders including vision therapy, low vision rehabilitation, acquired
brain injury and developmental/behavioral aspects of vision care that will
facilitate their development into exceptional clinicians offering specialized
skills in optometric care for low vision rehabilitation patients and persons
with binocular and developmental vision impairment.
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Objective: |
The resident will develop a high degree of efficiency in the
provision of vision therapy and low vision rehabilitation services |
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Outcome: |
The resident will provide vision therapy and low vision
rehabilitation services involving a minimum of 1000 encounters. |
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Measure: |
The resident will report on the number of patient encounters
of this type using the activity log |
Goal 2: Strengthen the residentŐs expertise in the diagnosis and
management of vision problems in binocular, perceptual vision and low vision.
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Objective 1: |
The resident will perform the appropriate diagnostic
procedures. |
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Outcome: |
The resident will consistently select and successfully
perform the proper diagnostic procedures for each patient. |
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Measure: |
The resident will be evaluated quarterly by the supervisor to
determine if the desired level of technical and cognitive ability is being
exhibited. |
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Objective 2: |
The resident will determine the correct diagnosis for each
patient. |
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Outcome: |
The resident will consistently select the correct diagnosis
for each patient with increasing independence as the residency program
progresses |
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Measure: |
The resident will be evaluated quarterly by the supervisor to
assess the appropriateness of the residentŐs diagnostic ability. |
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Objective 3: |
The resident will determine the best management for each
patient. |
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Outcome: |
The resident will consistently devise an appropriate
management plan for each patient in order to best address the patientŐs
needs. |
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Measure: |
The resident will be evaluated quarterly by the supervisor to
assess the residentŐs management skills. |
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Objective
1: |
The
resident will develop expertise in low vision patient evaluation and
prescription of magnifiers. |
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Outcome: |
The
resident will evaluate and instruct at least 100 low vision patients for
magnifiers. |
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Measure: |
The
resident will report on the number of patient encounters of this type using
the activity log |
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Objective
2: |
The
resident will develop expertise in low vision patient evaluation and
prescription of hand-held and spectacle-mounted telescopes. |
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Outcome: |
The
resident will evaluate and instruct at least 40 low vision patients for hand
held and spectacle mounted telescopes. |
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Measure: |
The
resident will report on the number of patient encounters of this type using
the activity log. |
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Objective
3: |
The
resident will develop expertise in low vision patient evaluation and
prescription of electronic magnification systems. |
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Outcome: |
The
resident will evaluate and instruct at least 30 low vision patients for
electronic magnification systems. |
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Measure: |
The
resident will report on the number of patient encounters of this type using
the activity log. |
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Objective
4: |
The
resident will develop expertise in low vision patient evaluation and
prescription of prism. |
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Outcome: |
The
resident will evaluate and instruct at least 20 low vision patients for
prism. |
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Measure: |
The
resident will report on the number of patient encounters of this type using
the activity log. |
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Objective
5: |
The
resident will develop expertise in low vision patient evaluation and
prescription of optical filters. |
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Outcome: |
The
resident will evaluate and instruct at least 25 low vision patients for
optical filters. |
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Measure: |
The
resident will report on the number of patient encounters of this type using
the activity log. |
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Objective
6: |
The
resident will gain experience in managing patients with vision impairment
with non-optical assistive devices. |
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Outcome: |
The
resident will evaluate and manage at least 50 patients with vision impairment
using non-optical assistive devices. |
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Measure: |
The
resident will report on the number of patient encounters of this type using
the activity log. |
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Objective 1: |
The resident will gain experience in managing patients with
visual processing disorders and/or vision related learning disabilities. |
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Outcome: |
The resident will evaluate and manage a minimum of 100
patients with visual processing disorders and/or vision related learning
disabilities. |
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Measure:
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The resident will report on the number of patient encounters
of this type using the activity log. |
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Objective 2: |
The resident will gain experience in managing patients with
accommodative dysfunction and/or non-strabismic disorders of binocular vision |
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Outcome: |
The resident will evaluate and manage a minimum of 75
patients with accommodative dysfunction. |
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Measure: |
The resident will report on the number of patient encounters
of this type using the activity log. |
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Objective 3: |
The resident will gain experience in managing patients with
strabismus. |
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Outcome: |
The patient will evaluate and manage a minimum of 75 patients
with strabismus. |
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Measure: |
The resident will report on the number of patient encounters
of this type using the activity log. |
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Objective 4: |
The resident will gain experience in managing patients with
amblyopia. |
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Outcome: |
The resident will evaluate and manage a minimum of 50
patients with amblyopia. |
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Measure: |
The resident will report on the number of patient encounters
of this type using the activity log. |
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Objective 5: |
The resident will gain experience in managing patients with
acquired brain injury.
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Outcome: |
The resident will evaluate and manage a minimum of 50
patients with acquired brain injury. |
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Measure: |
The resident will report on the number of patient encounters
of this type using the activity log. |
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Objective: |
The resident will acquire and practice skills needed to
effectively present information to other professionals in group settings. |
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Outcome: |
The resident will present at least one lecture per quarter
during the regular Residency Conference and when possible will present
posters or lectures in other settings such as the American Academy of
Optometry, COVD or the American Optometric Association. |
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Measure: |
The resident will report on these types of activities using
the activity summary. |
Goal 6: Instill in the resident an appreciation of the importance of
scholarly activity.
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Objective: |
Educate the resident in the preparation of a professional
manuscript. |
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Outcome: |
The resident will prepare a publication-quality manuscript on
an approved topic. |
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Measure: |
The resident will complete the manuscript by the designated
completion date. |
Goal 7: Provide the resident with the opportunity to become an
effective clinical educator.
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Objective: |
The resident will supervise optometry student clinicians in
the provision of vision services to patients. |
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Outcome: |
The resident will mentor and oversee the optometry students
during the final 6 months of the residency. |
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Measure: |
The resident will report the number of patient encounters of
this type in the activity log. |
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Objective: |
Expose the resident to the multidisciplinary approach for
treatment and management of persons with vision impairment. |
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Outcome: |
The resident will attend a minimum of six community
outreach/agency meeting (e.g., Vision Quest, Foundation for Fighting
Blindness, Professional Network on Aging, etc.). The resident will visit different practice approaches
pertaining to low vision rehabilitation. These may include a private practice
offering low vision services; a university based rehabilitation center; a
non-profit rehabilitation agency; and/or a hospital based rehab center. |
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Measure: |
The resident will report participation in the above
activities in the activity log. |
In addition to the specific educational objectives listed, the
resident will participate in the weekly residency conferences. These
conferences cover a range of optometric topics and are updated each year.
Generally, the following areas are covered during multiple presentations every
year:
Contact
lens fitting and problem solving
Office
Emergencies
Anterior
and posterior segment ocular disease
Binocular
vision
Three to four grand rounds presentations, typically emphasizing
ocular disease, are also presented each year.
The educational objectives of the curriculum are intended to
ensure attainment of the mission, goals, and objectives of the program. Consequently, each educational
objective reflects a specific program goal. Specifically:
Program Goal 1
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Objective: |
The resident will develop a high degree of efficiency in the
provision of vision therapy and low vision rehabilitation services |
|
Learning Activity: |
The resident will provide vision therapy and low vision services
involving a minimum of 1000 patient encounters |
|
Outcome: |
The resident will develop enhanced skills in the management
of vision therapy and low vision rehabilitation patients as mentioned above. |
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Program Goal 2 |
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Objective: |
Strengthen
the residentŐs expertise in the diagnosis and management of vision problems
in binocular, perceptual vision and low vision. |
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Learning Activity: |
The
resident will perform appropriate diagnostic procedures, make correct
diagnoses, and implement management plans for pediatric patients with regular
assessment and feedback from the program supervisor. |
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Outcome: |
The resident will develop advanced skills in the diagnosis
and management of vision problems in pediatric patients. The resident will utilize a wide
variety of low vision assistive and non-optical devices in caring for
patients. |
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Program Goal 3 |
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Objective: |
The resident will evaluate, prescribe, and educate patients
in the use of magnifiers, telescopes, electronic magnification systems,
prism, optical filters and non-optical assistive devices. The resident will develop advanced
knowledge of low vision assistive devices. |
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Learning Activity: |
The resident will develop advanced knowledge of low vision
assistive devices. |
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Outcome: |
The resident will develop advanced competency in managing
patients with low vision rehabilitative vision problems. |
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Program Goal 4 |
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Objective: |
Expand the residentŐs knowledge of binocular and perceptual
vision problems. |
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Learning Activity: |
The resident will provide care to patients with vision
related learning disabilities, accommodative dysfunction, non-strabismic
disorders of binocular vision, strabismus, amblyopia, visual perceptual
problems, oculomotor dysfunction and acquired brain injury. |
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Outcome: |
The resident will develop advanced competency in managing
patients with binocular and developmental vision problems. |
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Program
Goal 5
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Objective: |
Develop
the residentŐs skill in presenting topics to fellow professionals. |
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Learning
Activity: |
The
resident will present at least one lecture per quarter during the regular
Residency Conference and when possible will present posters or lectures in
other settings such as the American Academy of Optometry and SECO. |
|
Outcome: |
The
resident will develop enhanced effectiveness at presenting topics to other
health care professionals. |
Program
Goal 6
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Objective: |
Instill
in the resident an appreciation of the importance of scholarly activity. |
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Learning
Activity: |
The
resident will prepare a publication-quality manuscript on an approved topic. |
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Outcome: |
The
resident will gain additional experience in the preparation of a publication
quality manuscript. |
Program
Goal 7
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Objective: |
Provide
the resident with the opportunity to become an effective clinical educator. |
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Learning
Activity: |
The
resident will provide instruction to student clinicians. |
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Outcome: |
The
resident will develop skills necessary to provide clinical education. |
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Program Goal 8 |
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Objective: |
The resident will be exposed to non-optometric aspects of
care for patients with vision impairment. |
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Learning Activity: |
The resident will attend periodic community outreach/agency
meeting (e.g., Vision Quest, Foundation for Fighting Blindness, etc.). The resident will visit different practice approaches pertaining
to low vision rehabilitation. These may include a private practice offering
low vision services; a university based rehabilitation center; a non-profit
rehabilitation agency; and/or a hospital based rehab center. |
|
Outcome: |
The resident will develop an understanding of the
multidisciplinary approach to care of patients with vision impairment. |
The
Resident will gain clinical experience at The Eye Center at Southern College of
Optometry and in external multidisciplinary clinics affiliated with the
College. Modern diagnostic
instrumentation is readily accessible, as are Faculty who are experienced in
all optometric specialties. The
resident will meet on a weekly basis with the residency supervisor for
discussion of current cases. The resident will see patients at external
multidisciplinary clinics in addition to the clinical experience available at
the College. These locations
provide exposure to a wider variety of conditions than might be seen in an
equivalent period of time at the College clinic. The exact schedule for these rotations will be determined by
the program supervisor.
During
the residency, a weekly conference in the fall and spring semesters is given at
SCO which the resident is expected to attend. The resident will be expected to present a talk at a minimum
of three of these conferences during the year. A paper of publication quality is expected prior to the end
of the residency. The resident
will be involved in occasional student supervision if teaching is deemed a
career goal. In addition, the
resident may be asked to be a guest lecturer in a didactic course at SCO.
A. All applicants must complete and
return application forms by January 15. Supporting documents should be
submitted to the Director of Residency Programs of Southern College of
Optometry no later than January 31. This program uses the Optometric Residency
Matching Service. Applicants must
complete the ORMS application and forward it to the ORMS as directed in the
application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all supporting
documentation is submitted to each entity involved, e.g., the College, ORMS,
and the residency site if required.
B. Applicant must have earned an O.D.
degree, or will have earned such a degree by the time of matriculation from an
ACOE accredited school/college of optometry.
C. Applicant will furnish an official
transcript from his/her school/college of optometry. An applicant should have a cumulative grade point average
greater than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the professional optometric curriculum.
D. Applicant must pass all parts of
the National Board of Examiners in Optometry examinations required for
Tennessee license and furnish official transcripts when available. If accepted, the resident is expected
to obtain a Tennessee optometry license.
E. Three letters of recommendation are
required.
F. A brief essay stating reasons for
applying to this program.
G. A personal interview will be required.
H. Southern College of Optometry
affirms that all residency candidates will be evaluated without regard to sex,
race, color, creed, national origin or disabilities.
All
applicants selected for admission must sign a standard resident contract.
The residency program is one calendar year in length from July 1 to June 30. The stipend is $36,000 which will be paid on a bi-monthly basis. The resident will also have the opportunity to purchase health insurance at a nominal cost. Professional liability insurance and a $500 travel stipend are provided by the College. Also included in the benefit package are clinic coats, 10 days academic leave, 10 personal days and 18 days vacation leave, as outlined in the paragraph below.
Eighteen days of vacation leave are provided to the resident. These days are those on which The Eye Center at Southern College of Optometry is normally closed: July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the Friday following, ten working days at Christmas and New Year’s, Martin Luther King Day, two days during the Spring Break, and Memorial Day. Provision of these vacation days is automatic and does not require approval or submission of a leave request form. The resident may be required to provide on call services during some of these days.
Ten days of educational leave are provided. These days are intended to allow the resident to attend professional meetings. Ten days of personal leave are provided. The resident must submit a standard leave request form in advance to request educational and personal leave. This form should be completed by the resident and submitted to the supervisor. The supervisor will then approve or disapprove the request. If the request is approved by the supervisor the leave request form is forwarded to the Director of Residency Programs, who is responsible for tracking the resident’s leave balance. If the resident has a leave balance sufficient to cover the request, the DRP will approve the request and forward the appropriate copies of the form to the resident and the supervisor. The resident and supervisor are responsible for notifying the appropriate Chiefs of Service and the Director of Clinical Operations of the days that the resident will not be available to provide clinical services.
The
resident is required to write a paper based upon original research, literature
review, or a clinical case suitable for publication in a refereed optometric
journal.
A. The resident is required to deliver
clinical services at a level that is satisfactory to the Residency Supervisor,
the Residency Committee, Director of Residency Programs, and the SCO
administration. The resident will
be given a specific schedule each quarter. Approximately 40 hours per week will be assigned. After hours on-call assignments will be
made on a periodic basis.
Participation in community screening activities will be required on a periodic
basis.
B. The resident will be required to
keep a record of patient contacts.
Cases will be reviewed periodically by the Supervisor of the Residency
Program, the Director of Residency Programs, and the Residency Committee when
appropriate.
C. The resident will be required to
write a paper based on original research, literature review, or a clinical case
for publication in an acceptable professional journal.
D. The resident will be expected to
perform in a professional manner in the delivery of patient care services and
to observe those proprieties of conduct and courtesies that are consistent with
the rules and regulations governing the Southern College of Optometry.
F. The resident will be required to
participate in and complete the requirements set forth in the curriculum.
G. Upon successful completion of the
Residency Program, the Residency Supervisor and the Director of Residency
Programs will recommend the granting of certification to the Vice President of
Academic Affairs.
H. Any resident accepted for training
can be dismissed, without receiving a certificate of completion, for
infractions of the rules and regulations of Southern College of Optometry, or
for any action that jeopardizes the safety of patients, personnel, or physical
facilities.
Other
employment (moonlighting) is permitted as long as moonlighting activities do
not interfere with any part of the residency, including on-call
assignments. The professional
liability protection provided by the College does NOT cover moonlighting
activities.
The
residency in Low Vision Rehabilitation at Southern College of Optometry is
accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education, 243 N.
Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63141, 314-991-4100.
Upon
evidence of satisfactory performance in meeting all requirements of the
program, the resident will be awarded a Certificate of Completion.
The
resident reports to the Supervisor of the residency program. The Supervisor reports directly to the
SCO Director of Residency Programs who in turn reports directly to the Vice
President of Clinical Programs at Southern College of Optometry.
Cheryl
Ervin, O.D.
Director,
Residency Programs
Southern
College of Optometry
1245
Madison Avenue
Memphis,
TN 38104
(901) 722-3201; email: cervin@sco.edu