Externship Site
Vision Institute of Colorado
ICO STUDENTS ACCEPTED EACH QUARTER
Essentials
Location
320 E. Fontenero
City:
State:
Zip:
Colorado Springs
CO
80907
U.S.A.
Country:
Western US
Region:
Suite 201
Additional Address Information:
Description
Three doctor private practice with heavy emphasis on disease, cornea/cataract surgery, low vision rehabilitation, and specialty contact lenses. We have a diverse patient population and get many referrals from health care providers. Located in beautiful Colorado Springs with a short drive to ski resorts and many outdoor activities.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Increase proficiency, efficiency, and knowledge base in diagnosing and managing ocular diseases, specifically: glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetes, cataracts, keratoconus, auto-immune conditions, ocular emergencies, and dry eye. Increase proficiency in interpreting diagnostic testing and prescribing ocular and oral therapeutics.
2. Improve communication with: patients referring doctors, care givers, and health care providers. Students will be expected to educate patients on exam findings, write notes back to referring providers and primary care providers, and coordinate care with other specialists.
3. Understand how to implement specialty eye care services (contact lenses and low vision rehabilitation) into a primary care setting to best care for patients.
Number of Student Encounters
Average number of patients per week per student:
75-100
How many are full exams?
How many are special testing?
50-75
How many are observation only?
5-10
Relative Percentage of Student Encounters
10
10
70
0
10
% = Routine Refractive
% = Contact Lens
% = Ocular Disease
% = Pediatric / Binocular Vision
% = Low Vision
Facility Details
Required equipment:
Contact for externship liason:
Dr. Blake Simmons
719-559-2020
Courtney Chavez
Practice Administrator
Courtney.c@vicolorado.com
Arrival procedure for students:
We will have the student observe for the first couple of days to orient with practice flow, EHR, and to identify any skills that need to be worked on prior to seeing patients.
Attending Staff - Full Time:
Blake Simmons, OD, FAAO (Primary Care, Ocular Disease)
Erik Anderson, MD (Ocular Disease)
Andrew Henderson, OD ( Primary Care, Ocular Disease)
Miscellaneous comments:
Diverse patient population with many ocular needs--Patient demographics is very similar to South Chicago.
Students will have the opportunity to work with all optometrists/specialties and work with our ophthalmologist (cornea/cataract surgeon).
Heavy dry eye population. Students will have practice inserting/removing punctal plugs and amniotic grafts.
Students will be able to talk with different drug and equipment representatives and will be invited to meals, CE, and events.
Students will have their own exam lane. Students will have tech support if they need it, but will be primarily responsible for their own work up and obtaining exam data.
We have an OCT-A, Pentacam, Optos, and Visual Field. We do minor procedures in office, contract with a surgery center, and perform cross-linking in office.
Students will be responsible for working up the patient (case history, diagnostic testing, refraction, anterior and posterior health exam). The doctor will be in at the end of the exam to evaluate the patient and answer any questions. Students will have the opportunity to work up complete exams, referrals for a variety of diseases, pre-op exams, contact lens exams, and low vision exams. Students should expect to see 15-20 patients daily.
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 learned SOO much at this rotation!! All of the preceptors were absolutely phenomenal and I will truly miss working with them so much. They all pushed me to really think about each and every patient and really work on my diagnosing and managing of more difficult ocular diseases. I was also able to work a lot on putting in punctal plugs which was great too since I hadn't been able to practice that at any of my other sites!! There was a little bit of work with specality contact lenses, but if you have a special insterest in CLs, they are really really accommodating to what you would like to do!!! Also, Colorado Springs is GORGEOUS!!!! If you are into hiking, mountain biking, and other outdoor activities, it is a great place to be!!! I've loved being out here and truly can't wait to come back!! Also, everyone working in this practice are some of the NICEST people I have ever met!!! Seriously, you'll love it here!!!
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
No
No
No
1
Yes
Yes
Facility website
Student Clinic Hours
5:00 pm
8:00 am
2:00 pm
8:00 am
CLOSED
CLOSED
5:00 pm
8:00 am
5:00 pm
8:00 am
5:00 pm
8:00 am
5:00 pm
8:00 am
M:
T:
W:
T:
F:
S:
S:
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Additional Info about Hours:
Monday - Friday or Tuesday - Saturday
Private
Facility Type