**A recruitment/relocation incentive has been approved for Highly Qualified applicants** This position functions primarily as a clinical staff member in the Mobile Prosthetics and Orthotic Clinic unit as part of the VISN 23 Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service Line. Prosthetics and Sensory Aides Service Line in V23 is a fully integrated system at the VISN level. Although staff are assigned to specific primary duty stations at the facility level, our staff are not employed by that facility. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: (1) A bachelor's degree or higher in orthotics and prosthetics from a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited program. OR, (2) A bachelor's degree or higher in any major along with a post-graduate orthotics or prosthetics certificate from a CAAHEP accredited program. Board Certification: Candidates must be board certified by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC) or the Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification (BOC) as an orthotist, prosthetist, or orthotist/prosthetist. The board certificate must be current, and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirements for continuing education. Certification as a technician, pedorthist, assistant or fitter does not meet this requirement. English Language Proficiency: Orthotists, prosthetists, or orthotist/prosthetists must be proficient in spoken and written as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d). May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations:GS-12 Experience. Completion of 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level as an orthotist/prosthetist functioning as a full member of the clinical team which includes significant involvement in treatment plan development for the most complex types of conditions. Examples of Specialized Experience may include but not necessarily be limited to: Participated as a full member of the treatment team with considerable influence in the development of the treatment plan. Conducted clinical patient analyses such as gait, range of motion, lifestyle etc. for patients with a wide range of complex medical conditions which include unusual problems or complications. Designed unique or innovative devices to accommodate complex/unusual patient conditions or complications. Recognized physical abnormalities, deviations and complicating conditions with potentially life-threatening implications. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSA and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment-specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): Knowledge of regulatory requirements established by the ABC, BOC, the National Committee for Orthotic/Prosthetic Education (NCOPE), the International Association of Orthotists and Prosthetists (IAOP), the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (AAOP), Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), etc. *Knowledge of administrative functions including budget development and management, inventory management, space and workload planning, as well as knowledge of the National Prosthetic Patient Database (NPPD), knowledge of the Prosthetic National Software (PNS) package, Decision Support System (DSS), and knowledge of accreditation requirements for orthotic and prosthetic laboratories and certification requirements for individuals. *Ability to analyze data and provide reports using CPRS, Vista, DSS, HCPCS codes and other patient database information. *Ability to provide training to orthotists/prosthetists in new technologies and innovations in devices. *Ability to manage and supervise employees. (To be used if the assignment is supervisory in nature.) Preferred Experience: Dual certification as Orthotist-Prosthetist; 3+ years experience as an Orthotist-Prosthetist; experience working in outlying clinics; experience working independently in all aspects of O&P. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G32 Orthotist/Prosthetist Qualification Standard, Veterans Health Administration. ["This is an open continuous announcement until September 29th, 2023. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred on a weekly basis until the position is filled. Generally duties are assigned by the supervisor. The non-supervisory GS 12 Orthotist-Prosthetist functions as an Advanced Practitioner and/or spends more than 25% of their time on higher level activities of a significant scope of complexity, and range of variety beyond the full performance level positions. **As a MoPOC clinical provider you will be required to travel to satellite clinics and on occasion Veteran's homes to provide clinical care using a specialized vehicle equipped as a mobile laboratory.** Functions primarily as a clinical staff member in the Mobile Prosthetics and Orthotic Clinic (MoPOC) unit as part of the Orthotics and Prosthetics Lab within the VISN 23 Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service Line. Analyzes complex patients in accordance with established procedures for patients with unusual conditions, multiple complex conditions, interrelated conditions, etc. Assesses patients for indications/contraindications and discussion of the assessment with the physician / requesting provider for the purpose of developing the overall treatment plan with considerable influence in the development of that plan; consideration of new and emerging technologies in designing unique or innovative devices to accommodate or treat a wide range of complex medical conditions which include unusual problems or complications. Recognizes physical abnormalities, deviations, and complicating conditions with potentially life-threatening implications. Participates as a member of the treatment team with considerable influence in the development of the treatment plan for the most complex types of conditions. This requires advanced knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, physics, and etiology of diseases as well as knowledge of psychology and age-related competencies. Conducts clinical patient analysis such as gait, range of motion, lifestyle, etc. for patients with a wide range of complex medical conditions which include unusual problems or complications and will design unique devices to accommodate those conditions. Completes all required documentation including VISTA, CPRS, encounters, FLOW and other requirements as they evolve. Reviews and triages prosthetics requests daily and communicates with scheduling team as to which patients to schedule in house vs. those to be sent to outside commercial vendors. Performs the necessary procedures to provide custom devices to patients as prescribed by the physician. This may include but is not limited to: casting, digitizing, scanning, positive model preparation and modification, selecting appropriate materials and components, thermoforming, trimming, assembling devices, evaluating workmanship and fabrication performed by outside central fabrication facilities, ensuring structural safety and manufacturer recommendations are followed for final delivery to patients. Provides ongoing care and periodic evaluation to assure, maintain, and document optimal fit and function of prostheses, orthoses, so goods, inserts, shoes, and compression devices provided to patients Work Schedule: Initially Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm for training purposes Compressed/Flexible: Monday - Thursday 7:00am - 5:30pm after training is completed Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized for highly qualified applicants Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
