Summary

Incumbent will serve as a Health Technician (Pedorthist). The work represents independent assessment of patients with all levels of disease and disability - formulation of a treatment plan - implementation of the treatment plan - follow up of the treatment to validate outcomes and refine the treatment plan to improve patient compliance and satisfaction. The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information - refer to Required Documents below.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• To qualify for appointment to this position - all applicants must possess the following: Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.)
• Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a)
• Credential
• Candidates must be board certified in pedorthics by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics - Prosthetics and Pedorthics (ABC)
• OR Credentialed in pedorthics by the Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC)
• Exception for Non-Credentialed Health Aid (Pedorthist)
• Non-credentialed individuals who have successfully completed a Board for Certification in Pedorthics (BCP) - Commission on Accreditation of Pedorthic Education (CAPE) - National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE) - Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or American Board for Certification of Orthotics - Prosthetics and Pedorthics (ABC) approved pedorthic certificate program (see Pedorthist Programs) and otherwise meet ABC's eligibility requirements for certification (see Pedorthist Candidate Guide) may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate Health Aid (Pedorthist) under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B)
• Non-credentialed individuals shall only provide care under the clinical oversight of a credentialed pedorthist - orthotist - or orthotist/prosthetist at or above the full performance level
• Non-credentialed individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained
• Temporary appointments of non-credentialed Health Aid (Pedorthist) may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment
• Failure to Obtain Certification
• In all cases - Health Aid (Pedorthist) must actively pursue meeting requirements for certification starting from the date of their appointment
• At the time of appointment - the supervisor will provide the Health Aid (Pedorthist) with the written requirements for certification - including the time by which the certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline
• Failure to obtain certification during this time period may result in termination of employment
• Loss of Credential
• Management officials - in collaboration with HR Office staff must immediately relieve employees - who fail to maintain the required certification - of the duties and responsibilities associated with this occupation - which may also result in separation from employment
• Foreign Education
• To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
• English Language Proficiency
• Health Technician (Pedorthist) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Grade Determinations: Health Aid (Pedorthist) - GS-03
• Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Health Technician (Pedorthist) - GS-04
• Experience
• Six months of experience demonstrating knowledge - skills and abilities associated with pedorthic practice equivalent to the next lower grade
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of patient related psychology - for example age-related competency - patient - and caregiver stressors
• Knowledge of foundational sciences related to development of pedorthic treatment - for example anatomy - biomechanics - and pathology
• Knowledge of materials science commonly used in fabrication - for example adhesives - plastics - composites - metals - and leather
• Knowledge of regulations and procedures to ensure patient privacy
• Ability to assign Healthcare Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) coding to pedorthic devices
• Health Technician (Pedorthist) - GS-05
• Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Skill in conducting patient assessments
• Skill in developing simple pedorthic devices (includes assessment - measurement - selection - and fitting)
• Ability to consult with providers and allied health colleagues regarding treatment
• Ability to assess device to ensure structural soundness and compliance with prescription and fit
• Health Technician (Pedorthist) - GS-06
• Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Skill in developing a follow up treatment plan for complex pedorthic device types
• Ability to process paperwork for pedorthic devices being produced and fitted by vendor
• Ability to place administrative orders with procurement staff for treatment modalities
• Ability to assess device types for structural soundness and meeting the specifications of the prescription
• Ability to process consults/orders
• Health Technician (Pedorthist) - GS-07
• Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Skill in designing advanced pedorthic devices
• Skill in assessing device types for structural soundness and meeting the specifications of the prescription
• Skill in written communication
• Skill in oral communication
• Skill in fabrication of all pedorthic device types
• Skill in designing innovative pedorthic devices to include new and emerging technology
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.Pedorthist Qualification Standard The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-7. 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.

Duties

• Major duties include - but are not limited to: The Health Technician (Pedorthist) communicates and interacts with physicians - allied health professionals - patients and caregivers in various interdisciplinary clinical settings as a subject matter expert to develop the pedorthic treatment plan
• The Health Technician (Pedorthist) provides complex patient analyses in accordance with established procedures for patients with unusual conditions - multiple complex conditions and interrelated conditions
• The Health Technician (Pedorthist) assesses patients for indications/contraindications
• The Health Technician (Pedorthist) discusses the assessment with the physician/requesting provider for the purpose of developing the overall treatment plan with considerable influence in the development of the plan
• The Health Technician (Pedorthist) analyzes the potential use of new and emerging technologies in designing unique or innovative pedorthic devices to accommodate or treat a wide range of complex medical conditions which include unusual problems or complications The Health Technician (Pedorthist) takes scans and measurements for advanced devices - prepares and modifies casts for advanced devices - repairs and fabricates advanced devices and provides patient/caregiver education for advanced devices
• The Health Technician (Pedorthist) recognizes physical abnormalities - deviations and complicating conditions with potentially life-threatening implications
• The Health Technician (Pedorthist) privileges (Individual Scope of Practice) other credentialled clinicians to provide pedorthic care based on ABC privileging requirements
• Total Rewards of a VA Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday through Friday
• 08:00 to 16:30 Recruitment or Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available