Summary

This position functions as an advanced clinical member of the Illiana VA Medical Center & CBOC's under the Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Services service line in the role of a Mobile Prosthetic and Orthotic Care (MoPOC) program clinician.

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: Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• Certification: Must be board certified by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC) or the Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification (BOC) as a prosthetist - or Orthotist - Prosthetist - or Orthotist/Prosthetist
• Education: Must possess 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
• Driver's License Requirement: Incumbent must possess a current - valid state-issued driver's license for this position
• The position requires that the incumbent must possess a valid class C driver's license.(Please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package
• You will be required to show your valid driver's license at the time of your interview.) 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 Supervisory Level Experience: Completion of at least 1 full year of experience as an Orthotist/Prosthetist equivalent to the next lower level (GS- 11) in the federal service functioning as a full member of the clinical team which includes significant involvement in treatment plan development for the most complex types of conditions
• This experience includes: Attend clinics and fully participate as a member of a treatment team with considerable influence in the development of the treatment plan
• Conduct clinical patient analysis such as gait - range of motion - life style - etc. - for patients with a wide range of complex medical conditions which include unusual problems or complications - and to design unique or innovative devices to accommodate these conditions
• Knowledge of materials science including materials such as plastics - composites - metals - and leather used in fabrication in order to design and fabricate prescribed devices considering new and emerging technologies to include the use hand and power tools and CAD/CAM systems in the fabrication of the devices
• Recognize physical abnormalities - deviations - and complicating conditions with potentially life threatening implications
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• Preferred Experience: CPO with 3 or greater years of clinical experience
• Experience providing mobile O&P care
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued sitting - with intermittent bending - pulling - and pushing
• Movement between work areas within the health care system is expected
• Occasional lifting of objects up to 45 pounds may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing appropriate to the health care environment
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - and be able to shift priorities based on patient and department needs
• The incumbent must be able to operate a passenger vehicle without supervision using a class C driver's license.

Duties

• VA Careers - Prosthetics: https://youtube.com/embed/3NUvF5jjErQ The assessment of the patient 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
• Conduct clinical patient analysis such as gait - range of motion - and lifestyle assessment 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
• Perform 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
• Provide ongoing care and periodic evaluation to assure - maintain - and document optimal fit and function of prostheses - orthoses - soft goods - inserts - shoes - and compression devices provided to patients
• Review and triage prosthetics requests daily and communicate with the scheduling team
• Any treatment plans developed in interdisciplinary clinics are not implemented by the clinician - but rather a contracted vendor the clinician may be responsible for overseeing contracted employees' work
• Clinician will be responsible for conducting site surveys of commercial vendors within 25 miles of the CBOCs that they serve
• Has developing knowledge of administrative functions including budget development and management - inventory management - space and workload planning
• Analyze data and provide reports using CPRS - VISTA - DSS - HCPCS codes and other patient databases
• Stock-posting items delivered for inventory control - managing mobile lab equipment inventory - placing orders using established procedures for patient specific needs - quote review from outside vendors - etc
• May provide oversight of fitters and/or technicians as assigned based on certification requirements
• Work Schedule: Monday-Thursday 6:00am-4:30pm or 6:30am-5:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 06555F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized