This position functions primarily in the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service at the Olin E. Teague Prosthetic Treatment Center in Austin, TX. The Non-Supervisory GS 12 Orthotist/Prosthetist is an Advanced Practitioner at a smaller independent O&P laboratory and/or spends more than 25% of their time on higher level activities of a significant scope of complexity.
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.
- Education:
(1) 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. - 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.
- 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.
- Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
- English Language Proficiency: Orthotists, prosthetists, or orthotist/prosthetists must be proficient in spoken and written as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d).
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 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. Experience includes: Ability to attend clinics and participate as a fully participating member of the treatment team with considerable influence in the development of the treatment plan. This includes advanced knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, physics, and etiology of diseases as well as knowledge of psychology and age related competencies; Ability to conduct clinical patient analyses such as gait, range of motion, lifestyle, 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 those conditions; and Ability to recognize physical abnormalities, deviations, and complicating conditions with potentially life threatening implications.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSA:
- 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.
Preferred Experience:
- Treatment of all amputation levels including upper limb and hip disarticulation levels.
- Experience serving as a subject matter expert for physicians, therapists and other medical professionals regarding indications/contraindications of prosthetic and orthotic devices.
- Involvement in investigative/research studies or pilot projects of newly developed orthotic/prosthetic devices.
- Advanced fabrication/technical skills.
- NCOPE accredited mentor.
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.
Physical Requirements: Moderate carrying (15-44 lbs); straight pulling (1/2 hour); pulling hand over hand (1/2 hour); pushing (1/2 hour); reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required; walking (3 hours); standing (2 hours); crawling (5 mins); kneeling (10 mins); repeated bending (1/2 hour); near vision correctable to 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; have sight; depth perceptions; ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors, hearing aid permitted.
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