Clinical Component

Navigating the Clinical Component

This is a medical optometry practice built around diagnosis, management, and surgical co-management. The optometrist works independently within the Ophthalmology clinic and coordinates with Dr. Adam Ahmadi on surgical patients. The daily focus is medical eye care, not refraction or dispensing.

Patient Population

Good Shepherd serves a population of roughly 100,000 across its service area. The medical case mix covers the full spectrum of eye disease, with diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration among the major conditions managed. Common conditions treated include cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic eye disease, distributed fairly evenly across the practice.

Clinical Focus

  • Comprehensive adult and pediatric eye examinations
  • Visual acuity, refraction, and visual field testing
  • Tonometry, pachymetry, and gonioscopy
  • Dilated fundus examinations and binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy
  • Diagnosis and medical management of glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration

Surgical Co-Management

A core part of this role is co-managing ophthalmic surgical patients. The optometrist performs pre-operative and post-operative care in coordination with the attending ophthalmologist. All co-management is outpatient. There are no inpatient admissions tied to this role.

Prescribing Authority

Within state scope and hospital credentialing, the optometrist may prescribe:

  • Topical diagnostic agents such as anesthetics, mydriatics, and cycloplegics
  • Topical therapeutic agents such as antibiotics, antivirals, anti-inflammatories, mast-cell stabilizers, and glaucoma medications
  • Oral antibiotics, antivirals, and analgesics

Diagnostic Ordering

The role includes authority to use hospital infrastructure for complete patient care:

  • Order outpatient and inpatient laboratory work relevant to ocular conditions, such as CBC, ESR, CRP, HbA1c, and ANA
  • Order radiological imaging of the head, orbit, and neck, including CT, MRI, and X-ray

Equipment

The clinic is fully equipped, and the incoming optometrist will not need to bring or request additional instrumentation.

  • Combination luminous trio laser
  • OCT
  • Visual field machine
  • Biometry
  • Keratometry
  • Pachymetry
  • Three exam rooms

Practice Structure

Detail Description
Practice type Medical optometry, outpatient
Independence Practices independently within scope
EMR Epic
Documentation Scribe support integrated in Epic
Daily volume goal 15 to 20 patients
Call None

Support Services

The optometrist practices within a full health system. On-site and system resources include diagnostic imaging, laboratory and blood work, emergency services, surgical services, and a large primary and specialty care network. The hospitalist service admits and consults as needed. This access supports both the medical management and the diagnostic ordering that fall within the optometrist's privileges.

EMR

The clinic uses Epic, with scribe support integrated directly into the EMR.

Call

There is no call. The role carries no ED coverage and no inpatient responsibilities. All care is delivered on an outpatient basis.

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