Orthotist-Prosthetist

SummaryThe orthotist at this level serves as the supervisor of a laboratory with complex services assessing, planning and evaluating the prosthetic clinical services at the facility level to ensure proper coordination between the delivery of prosthetic and orthotic services and the overall delivery of health care. The assignment includes performance of the full range of supervisory duties.DutiesHelpVA Careers - Prosthetics: https://youtube.com/embed/3NUvF5jjErQResponsibilities include assuring the accreditation of the laboratory, regulatory compliance and a variety of administrative duties such as develop a budget, managing inventory and resources, overseeing contract employees, responsible to review contract vendor quotes for correct pricing and coding, supervising assigned staff, etc. This includes responsibility for assignment of duties; development of performance standards and performance evaluations; and recommendations for appointment, awards, advancement and when appropriate, disciplinary action, etc. At this level, the supervisory orthotist serves as a consultant within the medical center for clinical services and with other facility health care staff in evaluating health care delivery to patients. Supervisory grades are determined by the scope of responsibility and the type, size, and complexity of the service.Functions:1. The incumbent is responsible for the overall management of laboratory staff, equipment, physical plant and other material sources relating to the prosthetic/orthotic laboratories within designated facilities.2. Establishes and implements program goals to accomplish the multiple missions of the prosthetic and orthotic services within the resources available and time frame set. The incumbent is responsible for providing a vision and leading the development of these activities, as well as writing directives for clinical and administrative support staff. Incumbent reports the status and results of the programs and goals including budget and other resources.3. Ensures that Congressional, Central Office, and other legal requirements pertaining to eligibility and entitlement are maintained and that proper prosthetic and orthotic devices are issued.4. Keeps subordinate and ancillary employees informed of essential information relative to the operation of clinical services; and that medical care is fully supported by sound administration.5. Ensures proper and timely product design, fabrication, fitting and delivery of prosthetic/orthotic devices in compliance with the physicians and clinic requests.6. Develops screening and procedural mechanisms, which will identify the targeted population within the catchment areas of the various health care systems.7. Maintains appropriate contacts with staff and community resources in order to obtain therapeutic and rehabilitation goals and objectives.8. Establishes procedures to authorize the replacement of prosthetic and orthotic appliances, when deemed necessary without further medical evaluation.9. Ensures the maintenance of medical and administrative records and data to ensure proper documentation for JC, CARF, ABC, BOC and quality assurances purposes.10. Ensures that all management reports, i.e., HCFA code reporting procedures, management briefing, Fiscal Control Point updates and quarterly reports, etc. are prepared, reviewed and submitted in an accurate and timely manner.11. Approves procedures for appropriate inventory accountability and levels.12. Coordinates inter-disciplinary prosthetic clinical services with other specialty programs such as wound care, PACT, Spinal Cord Injury, Research, etc.13. Acts as liaison with orthotic and prosthetic contractors, prosthetic and orthotic manufacturers and central fabrication labs, including routinely visiting vendors to ensure that their facilities are adequate, as well as to familiarize them with VA procedures, documentation and options of payment.Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.Functional Statement #: 92131-0RequirementsHelpConditions of employmentYou must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.Must be proficient in written and spoken English.You may be required to serve a trial period.Subject to background/security investigation.Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.Must pass pre-employment physical examination.Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).QualificationsApplicants 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.b. Education1) 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.c. Foreign Graduates. 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.d. 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.e. Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation for which he/she qualifies if a placement opportunity exists.f. Grandfathering Provision. Orthotists, prosthetists, or orthotist/prosthetists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:(1) Orthotists, prosthetists, or orthotist/prosthetists that do not meet the basic requirements for education and certification may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance(journey) level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Completion of one (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.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(*):1. 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.*2. 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.*3. Ability to analyze data and provide reports using CPRS, Vista, DSS, HCPCS codes and other patient database information.*4. Ability to provide training to orthotists/prosthetists in new technologies and innovations in devices.*5. Ability to manage and supervise employees. (To be used if the assignment is supervisory in nature.)Supervisory Orthotist/Prosthetist. The orthotist/prosthetist at this level serves as supervisor of an orthotics/prosthetics laboratory assessing, planning, and evaluating the orthotic/prosthetic program at the facility level to ensure proper coordination between the delivery of orthotic/prosthetic services and the overall delivery of health care. Responsibilities include assuring the accreditation of the laboratory, regulatory compliance, and a variety of administrative duties such as developing a budget, managing inventory and resources, overseeing contract employees, supervising assigned staff, etc. The assignment includes performance of the full range of supervisory duties. This includes responsibility for assignment of duties; development of performance standards and performance evaluations; and recommendations for appointment, awards, advancement, and when appropriate, disciplinary action; etc. At this level, the orthotist/prosthetist serves as a consultant within orthotic and prosthetic treatment service and with other facility health care staff in evaluating health care delivery to patientsPreferred Experience: Two (2) years supervisory experience in the Federal Government. Knowledge of the Knowledge, Skills and abilities demonstrated within submitted resume.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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-12.Physical Requirements: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 25 pounds of force frequently to move objects. This could include moving objects such as pieces of equipment and assistance in moving clients. Includes: Reaching, Standing, Walking, Lifting, Fingering/hands, Talking, Hearing, Balancing, Bending, Kneeling, Crouching, ,Pushing, Pulling, Grasping, Feeling, Sitting, Carrying, Climbing: and Crawling.EducationNote: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.Additional informationReceiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.Expand Hide additional informationCandidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.BenefitsHelpA career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.Review our benefitsEligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.