Specialty Eye Institute Residency

Goal 1: Improve the resident’s proficiency in the detection and management of ocular disease and the ocular signs of systemic disease.

• The resident will be actively involved in over 1500 patient encounters
• The resident will be responsible for ordering appropriate imaging and laboratory tests
• The resident will assume primary responsibility for the care and follow up of their patients under the supervision of attending staff

 

Goal 2: Provide the opportunity to interact with other disciplines in the care of patients.

• The resident will interact with other health care providers by sending and receiving consults (including but not limited to the following disciplines:  primary care, neurology) mainly when working in specialty clinics with faculty.  The resident will interact on a routine basis with ophthalmologists, including observing/assisting in surgery.

 

Goal 3: Enhance resident’s ability to communicate verbally and in writing

• The resident will communicate clearly and use appropriate terminology when presenting information to patients, co-workers, as well as attending staff
• The resident will use appropriate medical terminology and make accurate entries into the medical record
• The resident will prepare and present a poster/paper at a professional meeting or prepare a manuscript of publishable quality, or participate in a clinical study through Specialty Eye Institute
• The resident will present lectures to patients, MCO students and to fellow optometrists throughout the duration of the program

 

Goal 4: Gain expertise in advanced technical skills to promote development of differential diagnosis, treatment and management skills

• The resident will observe and interpret A-scan and B-scan ultrasonography; perform and interpret corneal pachymetry and topography
• The resident will become proficient in interpretation of glaucoma diagnosis modalities such as HRT OCT and automated visual fields
• The resident will observe and interpret fluorescein angiography
• The resident will become proficient in examination of the retina utilizing a variety of techniques including contact and non-contact lens examination and scleral depression
• The resident will perform diagnostic and therapeutic anterior segment procedures (including but not limited to: foreign body removal, scrapings and cultures, suture removal, punctal dilation and irrigation, and punctal plug placement/removal)

 

Goal 5: Assist the resident in development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills

• The resident and attending faculty will discuss case analysis, differential diagnosis and management strategies of complex patients routinely throughout the year
• The resident will improve his/her knowledge of basic and medical sciences and apply this knowledge in the evaluation, diagnosis and management of patients
• The resident may be asked to gather data and provide statistics in a patient study
• The resident will participate in virtual grand rounds through MCO
• The resident will be directly involved in the management of emergent type patients by being on call 10 weekends throughout the residency
• The resident will be directly involved in management of pre- and post-operative patients in a variety of specialties

 

Goal 6: Provide the resident with experiences and skills that will facilitate continued contribution to the profession of optometry through a variety of venues including:  teaching, scholarly activities, and involvement in community and professional organizations.

• The resident will actively participate in didactic activities The resident will present a poster/paper at a professional meeting, or prepare a manuscript of publishable quality, or participate in a study
• The resident will be exposed to community and professional organizations and will be given the opportunity to participate (Michigan Optometric Association, Southwest Michigan Optometric Society, VOSH, etc)
• The resident will be encouraged to contribute brief articles or journal reviews for publication in the Michigan Optometrist

• 40 hours per week
• No on-call duties

The residency will be for a period of 12 months, commencing July 1 ^st and ending June 30 ^th. The resident’s schedule will vary according to patient care and training needs. There are seven Specialty Eye Institute offices located in Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Battle Creek, Chelsea, Ann Arbor and Adrian all in Michigan.  There are two locations in Ohio, Toledo and Bryan. The resident is scheduled for patient care primarily in the offices in Jackson and Lansing. Infrequently, the resident must drive to the other sites to provide care when needed. A minimum of 40 hours per week is required. Approximately 4 hours per week may be spent participating in a patient study. Approximately 4 hours per week will be allotted for research, development and organizing data for the study. The remaining 32 hours per week will be spent in direct patient care. Approximately 8 of those 32 hours will be allotted for primary care examinations by the resident. Approximately 24 hours per week will be spent working closely in various specialty clinics with different ophthalmologists, specializing in cornea, cataract, glaucoma, retina/vitreous and refractive surgery.

When assigned to direct patient care, the resident will also be responsible for performing specialty diagnostic testing and for seeing walk-in emergency patients. Outside of normal clinic hours, the resident may see a patient for follow up care for an acute ocular issue. Attending staff back-up call is provided at all times to the resident. Many of the lectures and seminars given by the resident are outside of normal clinic hours.

Direct patient care provided by the resident is included in the quality management plans currently in existence at Specialty Eye Institute.  Those quality management activities include:

• Pre/post cataract care
• Annual retinal evaluation for diabetic patients
• Log of patient encounters
• Outcome information gathered for each LASIK patient
• Patient satisfaction surveys

In the first 3-4 months of the program, all resident charts are reviewed by attending staff and regular feedback is given to the resident regarding quality of documentation (accuracy and completeness) and appropriate care (necessary testing, correct diagnosis, appropriate treatment and follow up). Many more are reviewed as the year progresses.

Scholarly Activities

The resident is required to present a poster or paper at a nationally recognized professional meeting, or prepare a manuscript of publishable quality, or participate in an ongoing clinical study at Specialty Eye Institute in order to fulfill the requirements of residency certification. Residents with the intent to submit a poster/paper for presentation at a refereed meeting (AAO, SECO, ARVO) will be eligible for a $500 travel scholarship from the Michigan College of Optometry.  Additional scholarly activities will include didactic instruction Specialty Eye Institute staff and lectures/case presentations.

Didactic Activities

At least once yearly, the resident will be required to present a lecture or case presentation to students, staff and/or colleagues at a collaborative venue with the affiliate, Michigan College of Optometry. The resident is required to participate in Specialty Eye Institute’s annual Spring educational, providing a case presentation or short lecture to fellow optometrists.

The resident is required to attend local continuing educational offerings for Fall and Winter through the Michigan Optometric Association. The resident is also encouraged to attend the American Academy of Optometry’s annual meeting or any other type of Optometric education meeting that the resident displays interest. 

Practice History:

In 1978, Paul Ernest, MD founded an ophthalmology practice in Jackson, Michigan, where he began his research and trials for no-stitch cataract surgery. Three cornea fellowship trained partners have since joined him in the practice. Subsequently, ophthalmologists specializing in glaucoma, oculoplastics and retina/vitreous were added to the practice. His practice has grown from one to six sites across lower Michigan and provides medical/surgical services to optometrist and hospital referred patients. Dr. Ernest believes in being on the forefront of technology, so all sites have current instruments for diagnosis and treatment of ocular disease. In 1996, Dr. Ernest’s practice merged with TLC Laser Eye Centers. In 2017, the affiliation with TLC was terminated and the new name Specialty Eye Institute was adopted to reflect the change.  There are now six locations where optometrists and ophthalmologists provide a wide range of services, while working closely with referring optometrists in Michigan. The Clinical Director of each site is an optometrist with outstanding qualifications.

Educational Resources:

The program enjoys a wide variety of current educational and informational resources that are readily available to the resident.

• Extensive library of ophthalmic text books located in conference room and offices (other texts available by request through inter-library loan)
• Journal subscriptions (Optometry and Vision Science, The American Journal of Ophthalmology, The Journal of the American Optometric Association and Review of Optometry)
• Med-line search (articles available by request through Library)
• Computer based medical references (Micromedex, Journal of the American Medical Association, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)
• General medical text books
• Full access to MCO library facilities and librarian services (including literature search, article retrieval and inter-library loan)
• Additional library facilities within 1-2 hour drive include:  Michigan State University School of Medicine and University of Michigan School of Medicine

• Employment for a 12 months period commencing on July 1 and ending June 30 of the residency year
• A stipend in the amount of $60,000 for this period
• Medical and malpractice insurance
• Seven (07) leave days for personal
• Extended sick leave requires documentation of medical necessity from the resident’s physician.
• Uniforms, cell phone/pager and mileage reimbursement

• To serve as a resident for the entire period specified above
• To perform to the best of his/her abilities in all assigned duties
• To maintain and complete supervisor evaluations, patient logs, etc.
• To complete one publishable quality paper or poster, or participate in a significant clinical study
• To maintain standards of competence in clinical practice
• To act in a professional manner at all times
• To observe all rules and regulations of Specialty Eye Institute and the Michigan College of Optometry including:
  • Practice within the scope of clinical privilege
  • Practice according to the rules of residency supervision
  • To refrain from participating in any activities (personal or other employment related) that would interfere with the effective performance of all assigned duties and responsibilities 
  • To refuse fees or payment in any form from patients, staff physicians or others