Community Health Centers of the Central Coast, Inc. Residency

Residency in Primary Care Optometry, with Emphasis in Community Health Optometry
at COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS
Nipomo, CA
affiliated with
SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

PROGRAM SUPERVISOR

Frank Giardina, MS, OD, FAAO

ASSISTANT SUPERVISOR

Franco Castrejon, OD

SITE LOCATION

Community Health Centers of the Central Coast, Inc.
150 Tejas Place
Nipomo, CA 93444

Community Health Centers of the Central Coast

VIDEO

Watch this video about Community Health Centers, which is both an externship and residency site for SCO:

NUMBER OF POSITIONS

one

ESTABLISHED

A community health-based optometric residency program affiliated with the Southern College of Optometry (SCO) and sponsored by the Community Health Centers of the Central Coast, Inc. (CHC).

MISSION STATEMENT:

The mission of the Residency in Primary Care Optometry, with Emphasis in Community Health Optometry at CHC (Community Health Centers) is to provide advanced optometric training and experience in the delivery of comprehensive primary care optometry in a multidisciplinary setting. The optometry residency at CHC (Community Health Centers) is dedicated to Eye and Vision Care in the Patient-Centered Medical Home. The Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) is an approach to providing comprehensive primary care to patients from childhood through adulthood ensuring access to basic and preventive health care services, and to the delivery of appropriate, efficient, continuous and coordinated care between the patient and the healthcare team.

The residency’s mission is to prepare optometrists to provide full-scope primary care optometry by providing post-graduate clinical experience beyond that provided in the Doctor of Optometry program.

Optometry Exam

PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:

GOAL 1:

To provide intense clinical training to strengthen the resident’s expertise and skills in the delivery of primary eye care services and clinical decision making with emphasis on the management of complex cases.

Objectives:

Perform comprehensive eye exams for all patients, regardless of age or ethnicity. The resident will perform a minimum of 1,000 examinations that include case history, visual acuity measurement, determination of refractive status, tonometry and assessment of external and internal ocular health during a single encounter.
Diagnose and treat a minimum of 100 patients with ocular injuries and infections.
Adhere to Standards of Practice for all areas of primary care optometry, in accordance with the Optometric Clinical Practice Guidelines as developed by the American Optometric Association.

Measure: The resident will report on the number of encounters of this type using the activity log.

GOAL 2:

The optometric resident will enhance his/her skills and competency in all areas of primary care optometry.

Objectives:

Develop skills in retinal photography and analysis of retinal imaging. The resident will perform and interpret the results of retinal imaging/photography on a minimum of 25 patients.
Develop skills in the use and interpretation of pachymetry. The resident will perform and interpret the results of pachymetry on a minimum of 25 patients.
Develop skills in the use and interpretation of automated visual fields. The resident will perform and interpret the results of visual fields on a minimum of 25 patients.
The resident will learn to order and interpret blood tests and imaging studies. The resident will perform and interpret the results on a minimum of 25 patients.
Residents will complete and certified to fit Paragon CRT (corneal refractive therapy) lenses.

Measure: The Residency Supervisor will evaluate the resident’s interpretation of the above listed tests.

GOAL 3:

The optometric resident will enhance his/her skills in ocular disease, management and treatment.

Objectives:

Develop skills in the diagnosis of various ocular diseases/conditions including, ocular infections, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts.
Develop strategies for the evaluation and treatment of urgent and emergent clinical calls, including appropriate triage and coordination of emergency service referrals.
Develop skills to diagnose and manage various forms of glaucoma. The resident will jointly manage and develop treatment with glaucoma patients after consultation with the Optometric Supervisor.

Measure: The resident will report on the number of encounters of this type using the activity log.

GOAL 4:

The optometric resident will learn to function effectively as part of a multidisciplinary health care team.

Objectives:

The resident will participate in at least two interdepartmental seminars and in-service trainings. The resident will attend interdepartmental seminars and the resident will develop and present one in-service training during the residency.
The resident will develop appropriate co-management skills and referral strategies with other medical services and other patient care providers.
The resident will collaborate with medical providers on cases requiring patient co-management.

Measure: The Residency Supervisor will guide and mentor the resident.

GOAL 5:

The optometric resident will develop clinical instructional and preceptor skills.

Objectives:

The resident will provide direct clinical supervision to optometric externs at least once per week. The resident will devote the majority of his/her time in direct patient care. The resident will participate in the training and evaluation of the optometric externs as needed.
The resident will develop and present one in-service seminar during the residency year. The in-service seminar will be determined with the advice and consent of the Residency Supervisor.
The resident will lead the journal club for the optometry externs.

Measure: The Residency Supervisor will evaluate and grade the journal article review, the case presentation and the in-service seminar.

GOAL 6:

The optometric resident will gain skills and experience in conducting scholarly activities. These include written and oral presentations.

Objectives:

The resident will write at least one manuscript of publishable quality by the end of the residency
The resident will attend the annual meeting of the American Academy of Optometry (or other educational optometric meeting) and write a synopsis about the educational experience. The resident’s compensation & benefit package includes 5 days and $1500 for continuing medical education (CME).
The resident will present at SCO’s annual residents’ weekend.

RESIDENCY ACTIVITES:

CLINICAL and PATIENT CARE ACTIVITIES:

The resident will provide primary optometric care including the diagnosis, management and treatment of various ocular and visual conditions.
The resident will provide appropriate and timely follow-up care for his/her patients, including the coordination of any referrals or consultations necessary for optimum patient care.
The resident will participate and work directly with other medical providers.

Measure: The Residency Supervisor will monitor and evaluate all residency activities. The Residency Supervisor will mentor the resident.

INTERDISCIPLINARY ACTIVITIES:

The resident will develop an understanding of standards of care for other primary care disciplines. The Residency Supervisor will supervise the resident and evaluate the resident’s knowledge and understanding.
The resident will observe patient care in other clinical services at CHC (Community Health Centers). The amount of time in other clinical services to be determined by mutual agreement between the Residency Supervisor and the resident.
The resident will attend grand rounds and in-service trainings. The amount of time to be determined by mutual agreement between the Residency Supervisor and the resident.
The resident will present at least one in-service power-point or hands-on training to another discipline.
The resident will provide written reports and referrals to other health-care providers.

Measure: The Residency Supervisor will monitor and evaluate all interdisciplinary activities performed by the resident.

COMMUNITY HEALTH ACTIVITES:

The resident will participate in vision screenings.
The resident will complete a publication quality manuscript involving community health optometry or other topics pertaining to improving health care outcomes.

CLINICAL INSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES:

The resident will provide direct clinical supervision to the optometric externs.
The resident will participate in journal article reviews and case presentations.
The resident will develop and coordinate at least one clinical workshop.

SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES:

The resident will write a case report of publishable quality.
The resident will design and complete a community health project, in collaboration with the optometric supervisor.

DIDACTIC ACTIVITIES:

The resident will complete and summarize at least one optometric literature search. The paper to be presented to the Residency Supervisor.
The resident will attend the annual meeting of the American Academy of Optometry (or other educational optometric meeting) and present a written report.
The resident will attend local optometric presentations and continuing education programs.

RESIDENCY SCHEDULE:

The optometric residency will be one year in length, beginning on July 1^st and continuous through June 30^th of the following year. The resident is scheduled for 40 hours of clinical contact time per week, including vision screenings and patient outreach. Clinic hours are 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Mondays through Fridays.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

The resident’s annual stipend will be $40,000 per annum with a benefit package, which includes the following: professional liability insurance, vacation time: 15 days per calendar year, sick time: 12 sick days per calendar year, continuing medical education (CME) $1500 per year and 5 days. The resident will have the opportunity to purchase health insurance through the health center or through an individual health exchange appropriate for the state of CA.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS:

The resident is expected to conduct him/herself in a professional manner at all times and is expected to observe standards of behavior and conduct in accordance with guidelines established by Community Health Centers (CHC) and Southern College of Optometry (SCO).
The resident is required to attend all scheduled clinic sessions as assigned, excluding excused absences.
The resident is required to attend all formal residency conferences and other designated educational programs that have been selected by mutual agreement.
The resident is to complete a scholarship project and submit the corresponding manuscript to the residency supervisor before the end of the residency year.
The resident will maintain an accurate Patient Log of all patients seen during the residency.
The resident will complete all quarterly SCO preceptor evaluations, and program evaluations in a timely manner.
The resident will be required to deliver an oral presentation at the annual Resident Weekend, held on the campus at SCO.

MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

A. All applicants must complete the SCO application. All applicants must complete the Optometry Residency Match (ORMatch), and provide all required supporting documentation by the deadline of January 30 to be considered for an SCO program.

You must have already passed NBEO Part I, II and TMOD in order to apply to one of our programs through ORMatch.
You must have passed NBEO Part III and ISE (if applicable) in order to begin an SCO affiliated residency program.
Those applying to a VA hospital or a state that does not require TMOD to obtain licensure are an exception if TMOD is not passed on first attempt.

B. Applicant must have earned an O.D. degree, or will have earned such a degree by the time of matriculation from a school/college of optometry accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education.

C. Applicant will furnish a transcript to ORMatch from his/her school/college of optometry. An applicant should have a cumulative grade point average of 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 state licensure. If accepted, the resident is expected to obtain the appropriate state license.

E. A personal interview will be required.

F. The College affirms that no person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity at or affiliated with Southern College of Optometry on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, disability, or national origin.

Applicants must submit the following materials in a timely manner:

Current curriculum vitae
Letter of intent
Official optometry school transcripts
Official NBEO scores
3 letters of recommendation

Community Health Centers (CHC) and Southern College of Optometry (SCO) are equal opportunity employers. They do not and will not discriminate against any person because of race, color, creed, gender, religion, national origin, age or disability.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Frank Giardina, MS, OD, FAAO
Optometric Supervisor
Community Health Centers
150 Tejas Place
Nipomo, CA 93444
Phone: (805) 931-2661
Fax: (805) 931-2697
Email: [email protected]

Franco Castrejon, OD
Assistant Optometric Supervisor
Community Health Centers
260 Station Way, Suite D
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
Phone: (805) 473-6203
Fax: (805) 473-6289
Email: [email protected]