Summary

The position is located in Miami VAHCS. The general responsibility of the Non-Supervisory Orthotist-Prosthetist is to provide the most complex clinical and laboratory prosthetic and orthotic services to disabled patients. The Orthotist Prosthetist at this level must be able to anticipate the need for action.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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
• English Language Proficiency
• Orthotists - prosthetists - or orthotist/prosthetists must be proficient in spoken and written as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d)
• Education-Documentation Submitted
• A bachelor's degree or higher in orthotics and prosthetics from a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited program OR A bachelor's degree or higher in any major along with a post-graduate orthotics or prosthetics certificate from a CAAHEP accredited program OR Graduates of foreign degree programs must have proof of a minimum of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent - as verified through an independent credential evaluation company) - with a specialization in orthotics and prosthetics
• Board Certification-Documentation Submitted
• 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
• 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 (GS-11) 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• 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
• Advanced Practitioner
• The orthotist/prosthetist assignment at this level is intended for smaller - independent laboratories
• In addition to functions typical of the GS-11 grade level - the assignment involves responsibility for assuring the accreditation of the laboratory - regulation compliance - and a variety of administrative duties such as developing a budget
• managing inventory and resources
• overseeing contract employees
• planning the orthotics and prosthetics clinical schedule
• conducting site surveys of commercial vendors
• devising short and long range goals in accordance with local - VISN - and VHA Central Office direction
• and conducting quality assurance activities
• etc
• The orthotist/prosthetist communicates and interacts with physicians - allied health professionals - patients - and caregivers in various interdisciplinary clinical settings - rehabilitation medicine - orthopedics - neurosurgery - vascular care - podiatry - oncology - etc. - as a subject matter expert to develop the orthotic and/or prosthetic treatment plan
• The work includes complex patient analyses in accordance with established procedures for patients with unusual conditions - multiple complex conditions - interrelated conditions - etc.
• assessment of the patient for indications/contra-indications 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
• The orthotist/prosthetist at this level is expected to recognize physical abnormalities - deviations - and complicating conditions with potentially life threatening implications
• Certification completing exams to ensure professional competence and adherence to industry standards
• Preferred Experience: hands-on experience through internships or clinical rotations to understand patient needs and device fitting
• Skills: Proficiency in assessing patients - designing custom devices - and providing ongoing care and education on device usage
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• This above full performance level
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

Duties

• VA Careers - Prosthetics: https://youtube.com/embed/3NUvF5jjErQ Major duties but - are not limited to: Follows established regulations and procedures to insure patient privacy
• Identifies biomechanical condition
• Conducts gait analysis - range of motion - coordination and balance - motor skills - and clinical assessment studies in accordance with occupational principles for unusual conditions - multiple complex interrelated conditions - etc
• Interviews patients to determine expectations - lifestyle - home/work environment - ability to use the device
• Takes necessary measurements - casts or scans to develop positive molds of the affected area of the body - which are used to create the orthosis and/or prosthesis
• Recognizes physical abnormalities - deviations - and complicating conditions with potentially life-threatening implications
• Assesses patient for indications/contra-indications of appropriate treatment protocols and discusses the assessment with the physician/requesting provider for purposes of developing the overall treatment plan
• Has considerable influence in the development of the plan
• Considers 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
• Considering the information developed through the assessment as well as time management workload considerations - designs custom devices using standard components to optimize patient performance for difficult and complex conditions
• may include CAD/CAM systems
• Selects materials and components to be used in fabrication of the device and determines appropriate equipment to be used in fabrication of the device
• Fabricates components - or selects and modifies components - and assembles these into the finished device
• Uses CAD/CAM system as appropriate in this process and performs preliminary alignment
• Fits the device on the patient - assures preliminary alignment - and performs subsequent dynamic alignment
• Assesses and/or modifies fit and function of the device as fabricated and makes appropriate modifications to insure optimum patient outcome
• Evaluates patient's ability to don/doff the device - provides training to the patient and/or caregiver in its use and maintenance
• This may also include training the clinical staff
• Conducts in-service training for O/P staff - VSO's - as well as staff in other disciplines regarding O/P technologies
• Provides guidance and direction to lower graded O/P staff
• Manages the daily operations of a small to medium Lab
• Plans clinical schedule for Orthotics and Prosthetics and assures appropriate staff coverage
• Conducts site surveys of commercial vendors to insure vendor regulatory compliance
• Evaluates the ability of a vendor to provide a product
• Responsible for accreditation compliance
• Develops short- & long-range plans/goals for the lab in accordance with local - VISN - Headquarters direction
• Develops budget plan for lab
• Manages inventory of stock items - fabrication materials - and components Assures safe workplace considering environmental concerns - OSHA/JCAHO regulations Conducts quality assurance activities
• Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm Monday to Friday Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 30483F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized