Summary

Orthotist-Prosthetist provides the most complex clinical and laboratory prosthetic and orthotic services to disabled patients at Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System. These type of services include work such as treatment of all amputation levels; advising physicians and therapists; authorizing purchase, fabrication, or repair of prosthetic devices; and participating in investigative/research project studies.

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: (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, prosthetist, assistant or fitter does not meet this requirement
• GRADE REQUIREMENTS Creditable Experience (1) Knowledge of Current Orthotist/Prosthetist Practices
• 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
• (2) Quality of Experience
• The experience must be post-degree, from an accredited training program and include work as a professional orthotist/prosthetist directly related to the position to be filled
• Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid or non-paid employment
• For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significantly larger scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• For purposes of this qualification standard the reference "orthotist/prosthetist"
• is intended to mean orthotist, prosthetist, or orthotist/prosthetist
• (1) Orthotist
• An allied health professional specifically trained to provide or manage the provision of a custom designed, fabricated, modified, and fitted orthosis based upon independent or consultative clinical assessment of the patient's unique needs and desires, as well as their expectations pursuant to a physician's prescription
• (2) Prosthetist
• An allied health professional specifically trained to provide or manage the provision of a custom designed, fabricated, modified, and fitted prosthesis based upon independent or consultative clinical assessment of the patient's unique needs and desires, as well as their expectations and pursuant to a physician's prescription
• (3) Orthotist/Prosthetist
• An allied health professional specifically trained to provide or manage the provision of custom designed, fabricated, modified and fitted orthoses and prostheses based upon the independent or consultative clinical assessment of the patient's unique needs and desires, as well as their expectations and pursuant to a physician's prescription
• Grade Determinations:GS-12 (a) 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
• (b) 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.) Assignments
• For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Candidates at this grade level are in one of the following assignments: Advanced Practitioner
• The orthotist/prosthetist assignment at this level is intended for smaller, independent laboratories
• In addition to functions typical of the GS-11 grade level, the assignment involves responsibility for assuring the accreditation of the laboratory, regulation compliance, and a variety of administrative duties such as developing a budget
• managing inventory and resources
• overseeing contract employees
• planning the orthotics and prosthetics clinical schedule
• conducting site surveys of commercial vendors
• devising short and long range goals in accordance with local, VISN, and VHA Central Office direction
• and conducting quality assurance activities
• etc
• The orthotist/prosthetist 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
• Preferred Experience: Certified Prosthetist-Orthotist Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS12
• Physical Requirements: A physical examination will be conducted based on the physical requirements of the position
• A physical examination prior to placement is required.

Duties

• The general responsibility of the Non-Supervisory Orthotist-Prosthetist is to provide the most complex clinical and laboratory prosthetic and orthotic services to disabled patients
• Included in this series is such work as: (1) Treatment of all amputation levels including upper limb, hip disarticulation levels
• (2) Serving as an advisor to physicians, therapists, and other medical professionals with regard to indications and contraindications of prosthetic and orthotic componentry, prescription criteria
• (3) Authorizing the purchase, fabrication, or repair of prosthetic devices
• (4) Maintaining continuous liaison with manufacturers and dealers of prosthetic supplies, inspecting their facilities and services and participating in the award of prosthetic appliance contracts
• (5) 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
• and (6) Giving technical and administrative advice and assistance on prosthetic problems to other facilities
• Duties include, but not limited to: Follows established regulations and procedures to insure patient privacy
• Identifies biomechanical condition
• 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
• Interviews patients to determine expectations, lifestyle, home/work environment, ability to use the device
• Takes necessary measurements, casts or scans to develop positive molds 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
• 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
• Has considerable influence in the development of the 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 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 fabricated 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/VISN policies
• Attends professional and manufacturer's training seminars
• Completes mandatory training per hospital requirements
• 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 professionals, patient and caregiver in various interdisciplinary clinical settings as a subject matter expert to develop the O/P treatment 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
• Conducts site surveys of commercial vendors to insure vendor regulatory compliance
• Evaluates the ability of a vendor to provide products VA Careers - Prosthetics: https://youtube.com/embed/3NUvF5jjErQ Work Schedule: 7:30-4:00 HST Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Functional Statement #: 07098F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized