Employment
Demographics
Employment demographics
pertain specifically to the status of employment, practice settings, and
current practicing status for optometrists.
NOTE:
These drop down menus are dependent on each other. For example, a fully
retired optometrist cannot have a primary practice setting nor a practicing
status of practicing.
To add/update
an optometrist’s employment demographics, please update the following drop down
menus:
- Employment
Status: Select from the drop down the current working status of
the optometrist. AOA supports the following employment statuses.
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Employment Statuses
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Employee
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An
optometrist who is employed by others on a salary, commission, percentage or
associate basis and who does not own or share in the ownership of the
practice or business.
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Non-Optometry
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An
optometrist that has left the profession of optometry and is currently
working in a non-related field or profession.
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Fully Retired
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An
optometrist who has left their job and ceases to work. When Fully Retired is
selected, no primary practice setting is available and the Practicing Status
automatically changes to Not Practicing.
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Self-Employed
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An
optometrist who owns all or a portion of the practice in which he/she works,
or is an independent contractor.
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Unemployed
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An
optometrist who is currently not working but is available to work in the
profession. Optometrists who self-identify as having the employment status
of unemployed cannot choose a primary practice setting.
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- Primary
Practice Setting: The primary practice setting is the principal location
in which they practice optometry. If an optometrist has multiple
practices, the primary practice setting is the one in which the
optometrist spends the most time.
The AOA supports the following
practice settings for optometrists who identify themselves as Employed:
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Employed Primary Practice Settings
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Armed Forces/VA Hospital or USPHS
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Optometrist
is employed by any branch of the US Armed forces, a Veteran’s Administration
(VA) hospital or clinic, or is providing optometry services for any division
of the US Public Health Services (USPHS)
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Chain
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Optometrist
is employed by an optometrist who is affiliated with a regional/national or
local optical company or is directly employed by a regional/ national or
local optical company, such as Walmart, Luxottica, etc.
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Comm. Health Center
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Optometrist
is employed in a community health center that is under the authority of the
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
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Educational Institution
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An
optometrist who is employed by an accredited optometry college/ school or
medical school. Optometrists employed by an educational institution may be
faculty, researchers, administration, or providing services in the
institutions clinics.
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Government or Indian Health Services
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An
optometrist employed by a state, local or federal branch of the US government
or who is employed by the Indian Health Services (IHS).
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HMO
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An
optometrist employed by a health management organization (HMO). An example
would be an optometrist who is working for Kaiser Permanente.
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Hospital/Clinic or Multidisciplinary
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Optometrist
is employed by a hospital, clinic (other than a university clinic) or in a
practice with other health care professionals (multidisciplinary)
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Manufacturer
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Optometrist
is employed for an optical/ ophthalmic manufacturer or wholesaler.
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Non-OD Optical
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Optometrist
who is employed by a non-optometry owned independent franchise or optical
company.
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Ophthalmologist(s)
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Optometrist
is employed by an ophthalmologist.
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Private OD
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Optometrist
is employed by another optometrist who owns the practice and is not
affiliated with a local/ regional or national optical chain or corporation
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The AOA supports the following primary
practice settings for optometrist who identified themselves as self-employed.
Optometrists will identify themselves not
only as self-employed but either as part of a group, solo, or as an independent
contractor.
·
Group: Two or more doctors (optometrists and/or
ophthalmologists) in the practice.
·
Solo: One optometrist in the practice.
·
Independent Contractor: An optometrist who
contracts with, or leases space from, the owner optometrist of a practice for
the use of space and equipment. Independent contractors derive their income
from the fees charged to their own patients and do not receive any financial
compensation from the owner(s) of the practice.
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Self-Employed Primary Practice
Settings
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Group Franchise
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An
optometrist who works in a practice with at least one other optometrist and
the practice is affiliated with a local, regional or national optical chain
or company and the optometrist owns all, or a portion of, the practice.
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Group Owner
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An
optometrist who works in a practice with at least one other optometrist in a
practice that is not affiliated with a local, regional or national optical
chain or company, and the optometrist owns all, or a portion of, the
practice.
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Solo Franchise
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An
optometrist who owns a practice affiliated with a local, regional or national
optical chain or company and who works in the practice with no other
optometrists.
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Solo Owner
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An
optometrist who owns the practice and works with no other optometrist in a
practice that is not affiliated with a local, regional or national optical
chain or company.
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Multidisciplinary
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An
optometrist who owns all or a portion of a practice in which optometrists and
ophthalmologists work together in the practice.
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Independent Contractor – Affiliated
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An
optometrist who contracts with, or leases space from, the owner of a practice
affiliated with a local, regional or national optical chain or company for
the use of space and equipment.
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Independent Contractor – Non-Affiliated
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An
optometrist who contracts with, or leases space from, the owner of a
practice that is not affiliated with a local, regional or national optical
chain or company for the use of space and equipment.
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- Practice
Status: Select the appropriate practice status from the drop down
menu. The AOA supports the following two practice statuses:
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Practice Statuses
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Practicing
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An
optometrist who is actively treating patients and providing a minimum of 8
hours of patient care per week.
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Not-Practicing
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An
optometrist who is no longer actively treating patients and providing care
for a minimum of 8 hours per week.
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