Orthotist-Prosthetist

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 your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (1 to 5 years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply.

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Duties

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VA Careers - Prosthetics :

This position functions primarily as a clinical staff member in the VISN 2 Prosthetics and Sensory Aides Service Line. Prosthetics and Sensory Aides Service Line in VISN 2 is a fully integrated system at the VISN level. Although our staff are assigned to specific primary duty stations at the facility level, our staff are not employed by that facility and rather works for the VISN.

1) Performs a comprehensive assessment of the patient to obtain an understanding of the patients orthotic/prosthetic needs:

• Review patient's prescription/referral
• Take a comprehensive patient history, including demographic characteristics, family dynamics, previous use of an orthosis/prosthesis, diagnosis, work history, vocational activities, signs and symptoms, medical history (including allergies to materials), reimbursement status, patient expectations and results of diagnostic evaluations.
• Assist in formulating the treatment plan by performing a diagnosis-specific functional clinical examination, including manual muscle-testing, gait assessment and evaluation of sensory function, cognitive ability, range of motion, joint stability, skin integrity and compliance.
• Consult with other health care professionals and caregivers about patient's condition to assist in formulating a treatment plan.
• Communicate with patient and/or caregiver about the recommended treatment plan, and any optional plans, to involve them in orthotic or prosthetic care; include disclosure of potential risks/benefits.
• Verify patient care by documenting history, ongoing care and follow-up, using established record-keeping techniques.
• Refer patient, if appropriate, to other health care professionals (e.g., psychologist, therapist, physician) for intervention beyond orthotic/prosthetic scope of practice.

2) Create a comprehensive orthotic/prosthetic treatment plan to meet the needs and goals of the patient:

• Evaluate the findings to determine an orthotic/prosthetic recommendation.
• Formulate treatment goals and expected orthotic/prosthetic outcomes to reduce pain/increase comfort, enhance function and independence, provide stability, prevent deformity, address cosmesis and/or promote healing.
• Consult with physician/referral source to modify, if necessary, the original prescription and/or treatment plan.
• Identify material, design and components to support anticipated outcome.
• Develop a plan for patient needs, including patient education and follow-up.
• Document treatment plan using established record-keeping techniques to verify patient care.

3) Perform the necessary procedures to deliver the appropriate orthotic/prosthetic services, which may include fabrication of the orthosis/prosthesis:

• Inform patient, family and/or caregiver of the orthotic/prosthetic procedure, possible risks and time involved in the procedure.
• Select appropriate material/techniques to implement treatment plan.
• Provide patient with preparatory care for orthotic/prosthetic treatment (e.g., diagnostic splint, residual limb shrinker).
• Prepare patient for procedure required to initiate treatment plan (e.g., take impression, digitize, delineate, scan)
• Implement procedure (e.g., take impression, digitize, delineate, scan).
• Select appropriate materials, components and specifications for orthosis/prosthesis based on patient criteria to ensure optimum strength, durability and function as required (e.g., choose ankle or knee joints, feet, knee units; choose material of components, lamination lay-ups).
• Consult technical component/material resources as required.
• Prepare delineation/impression/template for modification/fabrication (e.g., prepare impression/reverse delineation, seal and fill impression/pour cast, digitize, strip model, download shape to carver or modification software).
• Modify and prepare patient model for fabrication.
• Fabricate/assemble prescribed device by assembling selected materials/components to prepare for fitting and/or delivery (e.g., laminate/vacuum-form, remove socket/orthosis from model, smooth and finish orthosis/prosthesis, contour side bars to model/delineation, smooth and finish sidebars, bench align components to socket, strap orthosis/prosthesis as necessary, perform final assembly of orthosis/prosthesis for patient fitting/delivery).
• Assess/align orthosis/prosthesis for accuracy in sagittal, transverse and coronal planes to provide maximum function/comfort.

Work Schedule : 08:00-16:30 Monday-Friday

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 21J24-A

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You 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.
• 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 ( 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• Unrestricted current driver's license in a state is required.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.

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:
  • 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.

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 :

• Experience: Completion of 1 year of experience as an orthotist/prosthetist equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to provide orthotic/prosthetic services in a hospital setting.
• 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 (*):
  • 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, life style, 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.
  • Ability to recognize physical abnormalities, deviations, and complicating conditions with potentially life threatening implications.
• Assignments. This is considered to be the full performance level. The orthotist/prosthetist 7 communicates and interacts with physicians, allied health professionals, patients, and caregivers in various interdisciplinary clinical settings, rehabilitation medicine, orthopedics, neurosurgery, vascular care, podiatry, oncology, etc., as a subject matter expert to develop the orthotic and/or prosthetic treatment plan. The work includes complex patient analyses in accordance with established procedures for patients with unusual conditions, multiple complex conditions, interrelated conditions, etc.; assessment of the patient for indications/contra-indications and discussion of the assessment with the physician/requesting provider for the purpose of developing the overall treatment plan with considerable influence in the development of that plan; consideration of 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. The orthotist/prosthetist at this level is expected to recognize physical abnormalities, deviations, and complicating conditions with potentially life threatening implications.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS11.

Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items. Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

Education

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. 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.

Candidates 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.

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A 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.

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