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Orthotist - Prosthetist - Advanced Practitioner

Direct Jobs, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, 73116

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Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit a EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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.

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

Per VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section A - Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. - chapter 73 or 74 - to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English

Education: 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

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

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

Grade Determinations: GS 12 Orthotist-Prosthetist-Advanced Practitioner (Above the Full Performance Level)

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

GS 12 Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSA's): In addition to meeting the experience for the GS-11 level - do you possess the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities? 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: 5 years prosthetics experience including time in rehabilitation setting to include hospital inpatient service

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

This vacancy is being announced Above The Full Performance Level GS 12

Physical Requirements: Ability to lift patients using biomedical techniques frequently throughout the course of a workday/shift

must be capable of easily lifting fifty (50) pounds of weight alone Ability to walk - bend - stand - and reach constantly during the workday Visual acuity (near & distant) sufficient to maintain accurate records - recognize people and understand written direction

Ability to speak and hear sufficiently to understand and give directions

Ability to push wheeled equipment throughout the facility

Fine motor skills adequate for scheduling and preparing patients - equipment and supplies for treatment

Ability to participate in sustained activities for many hours in duration in accordance with state labor laws.

Duties

The general responsibility of the Orthotist/Prosthetist is to provide the most complex clinical and laboratory prosthetics and orthotic services to disabled patients

The organizational location of this position is: Orthotics - Prosthetics - Pedorthics Clinical Services (OPPCS) section of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) division of the Neurology Department within the Oklahoma City VA Healthcare System (OKCVAHS)

Major Duties and Responsibilities: Follows established regulations and procedures to insure patient privacy

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

Takes necessary measurements - casts - or scans to develop positive mold 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

Assess 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 over treatment 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 the 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 fabricates 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

Explains procedures and processes to the patient to reduce anxiety and gain support and cooperation in all stages of the process

Maintains the patient\'s record - including the electronic record - in accordance with established JCAHO/ABC/BOC/Medical Center NISN policies

Maintains professional credentials and/or competency

Observes appropriate - established infection control guidelines

Follows environmental and occupational safety guidelines

Communicates and interacts with physicians - allied health professions - patient and caregiver in various interdisciplinary clinical settings as a subject matter expert to develop the O/P treatments plan

(PM&R - Orthopedics - Neurosurgery - Vascular - Podiatry - Oncology - etc.) 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

Develops short- & long-range plans/goals for the lab in accordance with local - VISN - Headquarters direction

Assures safe workplace considering environmental concerns - OSHA/JCAHO regulations

Serving as an advisor to physicians - therapists - and other medical professionals regarding indications and contraindications of prosthetic and orthotic componentry - prescription criteria

Maintaining continuous liaison with manufactures and dealers of prosthetic supplies - inspecting their facilities and services - and participating in the award of prosthetic appliance contracts

Participating in the investigative/research project studies by selecting patients as pilot wearers of newly developed prosthetic items - evaluating the usefulness of such items and compiling data

Travels to other locations within the OKC VAHCS up to 25% and maintains current qualifications for the use of government owned vehicles

Meet criteria to implement - run - and supervise an NCOPE-accredited Prosthetics residency program

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday

8:00 a.m - 4:30 p.m

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Functional Statement #: 59967-0

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive

Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance

Learn more

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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