Externship Site
VA Maine - Lewiston/Auburn Community Based OPC
ICO STUDENTS ACCEPTED EACH QUARTER
Essentials
Location
15 Challenger Dr.
City:
State:
Zip:
Lewiston
ME
04240
U.S.A.
Country:
North East U.S.
Region:
Additional Address Information:
Description
Students are fully immersed in patient care- from performing the exam, discussing the case, recommending, performing and interpreting ancillary testing, and formulating treatment and management plans. Due to the nature of our patient population and rural setting, the complexity of patients is high. In addition, students participate in weekly educational meetings with optometry and ophthalmology students and residents from the other VA Maine sites.
Learning Objectives:
Increase exposure to ocular disease
Improve ability to formulate treatment and management plans
Improve relationships with other specialties in the management of patients ( rheumatology, pharmacy, and mental health, neurology)
Number of Student Encounters
Average number of patients per week per student:
35
How many are full exams?
How many are special testing?
25
How many are observation only?
less than 5
Relative Percentage of Student Encounters
25
3
65
3
5
% = Routine Refractive
% = Contact Lens
% = Ocular Disease
% = Pediatric / Binocular Vision
% = Low Vision
Facility Details
Required equipment:
Clinic coat and ID badge
Contact for externship liason:
Priscilla Hopkins, OD
priscilla.hopkins@va.gov
207-623-8411 (x2725)
Arrival procedure for students:
Contact preceptor via email 2 months prior to start of rotation for information concerning paperwork/fingerprinting necessary prior to the start of the rotation. The student will be contacted by our Education department prior to rotation with instructions, including necessary paperwork and fingerprinting. On the first day, the student will go to the Togus Campus (40 minutes from Lewiston) to pick up VA ID badge and computer access codes.
Attending Staff - Full Time:
Priscilla Hopkins, OD (Primary Care, Ocular Disease)
Kyla Duchin, OD (Primary Care, Ocular Disease)
Miscellaneous comments:
In addition to direct patient care, students participate in weekly optometry and ophthalmology rounds and monthly interprofessional meetings.
The Lewiston CBOC Eye Clinic is staffed by 2 full time optometrists. General ophthalmology is located at the Togus campus. Students will have the opportunity to spend the day at the Togus Eye Clinic.
HOUSING:
Basic shared housing is available at the Togus campus, a 40 minute drive from the Lewiston clinic.
Additional Information:
Click here to review onboarding requirements. If you do not see your site listed on Sharepoint, contact your preceptor directly.
Student Review
I was the first person from ICO at this site and honestly I can't believe it. The preceptors here are very personable and knowledgeable. I felt like I was being pushed but in a helpful way. Would most definitely recommended this site. My goals for this site were to become more familiar with posterior segment conditions and this site most definitely met my expectations. The preceptors here are wonderful and very knowledgeable. The weekly ophthalmology grand rounds and inter-professional meetings were also very interesting. I went to the Togus campus (1 hr away) a couple times for "wet labs" which were basically just sessions led by the resident there over skills we'd like to be better at.
Ocular Disease
Facility specialties:
Facility category:
Ocular Disease (Specialty 2)
Max number of ICO students?
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Housing available or a stipend?
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Is this a residency program?
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Other externship affiliations?
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Do you provide formal journal club, case discussion, grand rounds?
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Are meals provided?
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Is an automobile necessary?
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Is there on-site parking?
No
Yes
Yes
No
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1
Yes
Yes
Facility website
Student Clinic Hours
4:30 pm
8:00 am
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED
4:30 pm
8:00 am
4:30 pm
8:00 am
4:30 pm
8:00 am
4:30 pm
8:00 am
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Additional Info about Hours:
VA
Facility Type