Overview:

The Optometrist provides comprehensive primary eye and vision care to patients of Damian Family Care Centers, Inc. The Optometrist evaluates, diagnoses, treats, and manages disorders and diseases of the visual system and provides preventive eye care within the scope of practice permitted by New York State. Working as a member of Damian’s interdisciplinary healthcare team, the Optometrist collaborates with primary care providers, nursing, behavioral health, care management, and other clinical professionals to support coordinated, patient-centered care. The Optometrist identifies patients requiring additional ophthalmologic or specialty evaluation and facilitates appropriate referrals and follow-up.

The position supports Damian’s mission by providing accessible, culturally responsive, high-quality care to medically underserved and diverse patient populations.

Essential Job Duties

• Perform comprehensive and problem-focused eye examinations for adult, pediatric, and geriatric patients, as appropriate to the provider's training and assigned patient population.
• Assess visual acuity, refraction, binocular vision, ocular health, and other components of visual function.
• Diagnose and manage refractive errors and prescribe eyeglasses and other corrective lenses as clinically appropriate.
• Diagnose, treat, and manage diseases and disorders of the eye and visual system within the Optometrist's New York State scope of practice.
• Identify signs of systemic disease that may manifest through ocular findings and coordinate care with the patient's primary care or specialty provider.
• Provide routine and medically necessary eye examinations for patients with diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic medical conditions requiring ocular monitoring.
• Screen for and manage conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic eye disease, dry eye, conjunctivitis, and other common ocular conditions within scope of practice.
• Perform and interpret diagnostic testing within the provider's training, privileges, and available clinical resources.
• Prescribe therapeutic pharmaceutical agents when authorized under the provider's New York State license and certification.
• Educate patients regarding eye health, disease prevention, treatment plans, medication use, corrective lenses, and recommended follow-up care.
• Identify patients requiring ophthalmology, retinal, neurological, surgical, or other specialty consultation and initiate appropriate referrals.
• Communicate significant clinical findings to primary care and other members of the patient's healthcare team.
• Document examinations, diagnoses, treatment plans, prescriptions, referrals, and follow-up recommendations accurately and timely in the Electronic Health Record.
• Complete clinical documentation and close encounters within organizational standards.
• Review diagnostic results, referral outcomes, and other clinical information requiring provider follow-up.
• Maintain an appropriate patient schedule and meet organizational expectations for access, productivity, quality, and continuity of care.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives, peer review, clinical meetings, and other activities designed to improve patient outcomes.
• Follow applicable HRSA, FQHC, OSHA, HIPAA, infection prevention, patient safety, and Damian policies and procedures.
• Maintain professional boundaries and provide services in a respectful, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and patient-centered manner.
• Maintain all required licenses, certifications, continuing education, credentialing, and privileging requirements.
• Participate in clinical audits, quality reviews, and regulatory surveys as requested.
• Immediately report patient safety concerns, adverse events, suspected abuse or neglect, and other reportable matters in accordance with applicable laws and Damian policies.

Non-Essential Job Duties

• Participate in community health education or health promotion activities.
• Assist with staff education regarding eye health and common ocular conditions.
• Participate in organizational committees, workgroups, or special projects.
• Support development of clinical workflows and protocols related to optometry services.
• Participate in community outreach or health screening events when scheduled.
• Provide input regarding optometry equipment, supplies, and clinical resources.
• Perform other related duties consistent with the position, professional license, and organizational needs.

Qualifications & Skills

• Current and unrestricted license to practice Optometry in New York State required.
• Appropriate New York State certification/authorization to prescribe and use diagnostic and therapeutic pharmaceutical agents required for assigned duties.
• Current BLS certification required.
• Must meet Damian Family Care Centers' credentialing and privileging requirements.
• Must maintain all required continuing education and professional requirements necessary for New York State licensure.
• Minimum of one year of clinical optometry experience preferred.
• Previous experience in an FQHC, community health center, ambulatory care, hospital outpatient setting, or other medically underserved environment strongly preferred.
• Experience working with culturally and socioeconomically diverse patient populations strongly preferred.
• Comprehensive knowledge of optometric examination, diagnosis, treatment, and disease management.
• Strong clinical assessment and diagnostic skills.
• Knowledge of ocular manifestations of chronic and systemic diseases.
• Ability to recognize conditions requiring urgent or specialty ophthalmologic intervention.
• Strong patient education, counseling, verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to function effectively as part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time-management abilities.
• Ability to manage an assigned patient schedule while maintaining quality and patient-centered care.
• Demonstrated commitment to serving underserved and diverse communities.
• Ability to maintain patient confidentiality and comply with HIPAA requirements.
• Proficiency with Electronic Health Records and other healthcare technology.
• Ability to document clinical encounters accurately and within established timeframes.
• Sound clinical judgment and ability to work independently within established scope of practice and organizational protocols.

Physical & Work Requirements

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential function

• Ability to sit and/or stand for extended periods while providing patient care.
• Ability to perform repetitive fine motor movements associated with clinical examination and diagnostic equipment.
• Ability to position and operate optometric equipment safely and effectively.
• Ability to assist patients with positioning as necessary for examinations.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients and staff in person, electronically, and by telephone.
• Ability to view computer monitors, medical equipment displays, and Electronic Health Records for extended periods.
• Ability to occasionally lift, push, pull, or carry clinical supplies and equipment.
• Ability to travel between Damian locations when required by operational needs.
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Employee Acknowledgment & Signature

I acknowledge that I have received, reviewed, and understand the duties, responsibilities, and qualifications outlined in this job description for the position of Optometrist. I understand that this description reflects the essential functions of the role but does not constitute a contract of employment, and that duties may change based on organizational needs.

I understand that I must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation and agree to comply with all applicable policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.

Employee Name (Print): ______________________________  

Employee Signature: _________________________________ Date: _____________________