Supervisory Orthotist-Prosthetist

Overview Accepting applications Open & closing dates Opening and closing dates09/07/2021 to 09/28/2021 This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more Service Excepted Pay scale & grade

GS 13

Salary $92,795 to $120,634 per year Appointment type Permanent Work schedule Full-time Duties SummaryThis position is located in the South Texas VA Healthcare Systems (STVHCS). The Supervisory Orthotist-Prosthetist administers, supervises, and performs work concerned with providing clinical and laboratory prosthetics and orthotic services to disabled patients.A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual.Responsibilities Planning, developing, and directing an Orthotic-Prosthetic Laboratory and related Clinical Activities at the national, VISN or local level; with an emphasis as a consultant for clinical prosthetics and orthotics at the VISN level. Serving as an advisor to physicians, therapists and other medical professionals with regard to indications and contraindications of prosthetic and orthotic componentry, prescription criteria. Authorizing the purchase, fabrication or repair of prosthetic devices. Maintaining continuous liaison with manufacturers and dealers of prosthetic supplies, inspecting their facilities and services and participating in the award of prosthetic appliance contracts. Participating in investigative/research project studies by selecting patients as pilot wearers of newly developed prosthetic items, evaluating the usefulness of such items and compiling of data. Giving technical and administrative advice and assistance on prosthetic problems to other facilities. Having knowledge of contracting, human resources, the National Prosthetic Patient Database, inventory management and knowledge of the Prosthetic national software package. Follows established regulations and procedures to insure patient privacy on a VISN level. 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 molds of the affected area of the body, which are used to create orthoses and/or prostheses. Recognizes physical abnormalities, deviations, and complicating conditions with potentially life threatening implications. Assesses 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. 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. Manages and Administers CAD/CAM operation for the VISN as a Clinical Fabrication facility; overseeing these systems Fits device on patient, assures preliminary alignment, and performs subsequent dynamic alignment. Attends professional and manufacturer's training seminars. Develops budget plan for lab. Supervises O/P lab staff evaluating employee performance, approving leave, interviewing candidates for positions, recommending promotions, giving advice, counseling/effecting disciplinary action, resolving complaints, etc.Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.Telework: Not AvailableVirtual: This is not a virtual position.Position Title/Functional Statement #:Supervisory Orthotist-Prosthetist/PD000000Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for higher qualified applicantPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not AuthorizedPCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not AuthorizedFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required Travel RequiredOccasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position for training and/or conferences. Supervisory status Yes Promotion Potential None Requirements Conditions of EmploymentYou must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this jobSelective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959You may be required to serve a probationary periodSubject to a background/security investigationMust be proficient in written and spoken EnglishSelected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding processParticipation in the seasonal influenza and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination programs are requirements for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/28/2021.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. Orthotists, prosthetists, or orthotist/prosthetists must be proficient in spoken and written as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d).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.

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. 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. 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).Preferred Experience:

1. 3-5 years as a Supervisor, Manager or Owner of a Prosthetic Lab to manage personalities as well as clinical/administrative operations of a prosthetic/orthotic clinic.
2. Able to treat complex prosthetic and orthotic cases, particularly multiple limb amputations from trauma and TBI/SCI patients.
3. Experience with maintaining American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC) accreditation.
4. Experience with National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE) residency education programs and accreditation.Grade Determinations: GS-13Experience: 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.

To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with current professional orthotic and/or prosthetic professional practice. The orthotist/prosthetist at this level serves as the supervisor and laboratory manager for large laboratories or multiple satellite laboratories. In addition to the responsibilities described at the GS-12 level, this assignment includes serving as a VISN resource/consultant for orthotics and prosthetics; performing or overseeing testing and evaluation of design concepts; overseeing and evaluating contract orthotics and prosthetics vendors. Part-time experience as a professional orthotist/prosthetist is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, an orthotist/prosthetist would receive 1 week of full-time credit for each 2 weeks of half-time work.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 ABC, BOC, NCOPE, IAOP, AAOP, JCAHO, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMMS), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), etc., in order to provide advice to VISN management of the implementation of those requirements. 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, a knowledge of the Prosthetic National Software package, CPRS, DSS and knowledge of accreditation requirements for orthotic and prosthetic laboratories and knowledge of certification requirements for clinical staff in order to develop VISN guidelines and policies, allocate resources within the VISN, and project future workload for the VISN. 3. Ability to analyze data and provide reports using HCPC codes and other patient database information from VISN orthotic and prosthetic laboratories and to provide such reports to VISN management. 4. Ability to serve as a consultant to orthotists/prosthetists within the VISN on emerging technologies, the most difficult and complex cases, changes in policy, etc. 5. Ability to supervise. (To be used if the assignment is supervisory in nature.)References: VA Handbook 5005/91 Part II Appendix G32; March 21, 2017; GS-667 This vacancy is above the full performance level at the GS-13Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over; heavy carrying, 45 pounds and over; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (3 hours); standing (3 hours); kneeling (.5 hours); repeated bending (.5 hours); both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; ability to distinguish basic and shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted). EducationIMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. The bachelor's degree (or higher) in orthotics and prosthetics must be fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). If the bachelor's degree or higher is in any major, the post-graduate orthotics or prosthetics certificate must be from a CAAHEP accredited program. If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. If your school was accredited by CAAHEP at the time of graduation, but is no longer listed on the CAAHEP website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.Note: 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: . 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: . Additional information Receiving 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. 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. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application. How You Will Be EvaluatedYou will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Background checks and security clearanceSecurity clearance Other Drug test required No Position sensitivity and riskNon-sensitive (NS)/Low RiskTrust determination processSuitability/FitnessThis job is open to The public U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S. Clarification from the agency Open to the Public, Agency employees and current Federal Employees should apply under announcement number CAZM-11221618-21-DMK. This job is also open in another announcement to: Federal employees - Competitive service Federal employees - Excepted service Internal to an agency