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VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Livermore Division

Hammock Relaxing

ICO STUDENTS ACCEPTED EACH QUARTER

Essentials

Location

4951 Arroyo Road

City:

State:

Zip:

Livermore

CA

94550

U.S.A.

Country:

Western US

Region:

Additional Address Information:

Description

The Livermore VA Optometry clinic is located within an Outpatient Clinic that provides eye care to patients with diabetes, cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and other pathologies.


Objectives:

1. Ability to detect, diagnose, and treat ocular pathology.

2. To improve efficiency, time management, technical and clinical examination skills.

3. Develop skills involved in evidence based clinical decision by immersion in clinical and scientific literature.

Number of Student Encounters

Average number of patients per week per student:

45

100%

How many are full exams?

How many are special testing?

80%

How many are observation only?

0%

Relative Percentage of Student Encounters

10

0

80

5

5

% = Routine Refractive

% = Contact Lens

% = Ocular Disease

% = Pediatric / Binocular Vision

% = Low Vision

Facility Details

Required equipment:

White coat, scrubs (preferably blue), scleral indenter.

Contact for externship liason: 

Dr. Chelsia Park

chelsia.park@va.gov

925-373-4700

Arrival procedure for students:

On the morning of their first day prior to starting patient care, the student will be oriented to the clinic, policies, electronic

Full-time

Chelsia Park, OD, FAAO (Primary Care)

Sandra Harpster, OD, FAAO (Primary Care)

Lee Vien, OD, FAAO (Primary Care, Ocular Disease)


Part-time

Tarah Lee, OD (Primary Care, Vision Rehab)

Linda Nguyen, OD (Primary Care, Vision Rehab)

Shanida Ingalla, OD (Primary Care, Vision Rehab)

Kristi Lew, OD (Primary Care, Vision Rehab, Ocular Disease)

Miscellaneous comments:

Students will examine patients first, followed by their attending doctor. On average, the volume of patients seen per day will range 9-11.


The Livermore VA Optometry Clinic is located within the Livermore Campus of the Palo Alto VA Medical Center, an outpatient facility that also provides Primary Care and specialty health services including Ophthalmology and Retina services. The Optometry Clinic works alongside Ophthalmology services in a collaborative setting, sharing support staff and equipment, such as a Spectralis OCT, Optos, HVF Analyzer, Topcon Fundus Camera, Anterior Segment Camera, Autorefractor, and Quantel Touch B-scan. In addition to providing primary eye care, the Optometry Clinic offers Low Vision Services and Bedside Exams at the neighboring Livermore VA Community Living Center. Students will be required to complete a written case report and present a case in ppt format as part of their rotation.

1/month Resident Led Slide Quizzes

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 feel I had the perfect blend of primary care optometry sessions with cases ranging from straightforward exams to complex disease management to working alongside the ophthalmologist in managing more severe ocular disease. I had the opportunity to shadow several procedures including YAG capsulotomy and intravitreal injection. All of the doctors at this site, ODs and MDs, are incredibly knowledgeable and exceptional instructors. I was fortunate to be able to work closely with all OD providers and learn about different approaches to primary care. I have learned so much and have had exposure to very unique cases.

Ocular Disease, Primary Care

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, Berkeley

Yes

No

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

7:30 am

4:30 pm

7:30 am

4:30 pm

8:00 am

M:

T:

W:

T:

F:

S:

S:

-

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Additional Info about Hours:

Didactics will take place from 7:30-8:00 on Tues/Wed typically

VA

Facility Type

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