Career Center

Summary

The Health Technician - Orthopedic Fitter is assigned to Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service at the Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System. The incumbent will perform the repair - fabrication - fitting - and dispensing of orthotic appliances.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 03/14/2025. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-5 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-4 - for a GS-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5 and for a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. The grade may have been in any occupation - but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year - it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade - as required by the announcement. In this instance - you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-05 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: experience performing knowledgeable about the mechanical function of Prosthetic and Sensory Aids appliances. Knowledge of all types of disabilities - and knowledge and skill in the fabrications of devices. Skill in working with metals - leather - plastics - fabrics - and other materials. Incumbent may utilize drill press - grinder - sander - and install rivets. Knowledge in the use of a sewing machine - heat gun - Brannock device or Ritz stick may be needed. OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have I have a bachelor's degree or four (4) full academic years above high school education leading to such a degree. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business - secretarial or technical school - junior college - college or university. OR - Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond some specialized experience as described in A but less than one year - and more than two years but less than four years of education above high school. GS-06 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - knowledgeable about the mechanical function of Prosthetic and Sensory Aids appliances. Knowledge of all types of disabilities - and knowledge and skill in the fabrications of devices. Skill in working with metals - leather - plastics - fabrics - and other materials. Incumbent may utilize drill press - grinder - sander - and install rivets. Knowledge in the use of a sewing machine - heat gun - Brannock device or Ritz stick may be needed. GS-07 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: work consists of several related processes such as compiling - recording - reviewing - selecting - and interpreting medical data and information incidental to a variety of patient care and treatment activities. Work consists of different - varied - and unrelated medical record processes and methods - including reviewing the work of other employees to verify compliance with regulatory requirements. The employee determines the relevance of many facts and conditions such as information contained in the record - legal and regulatory requirements - and other variables; and determines the appropriate action from many alternatives. The employee identifies and analyzes medical records problems and issues and determines their interrelationships and the appropriate methods and techniques needed to resolve them. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Interpersonal Skills Manages Resources Medical Information Quality Assurance Technical Competence 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing - bending - reaching - crouching - stooping - stretching - and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals and record boxes. Long periods of standing and long-distance walking may be required. For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Duties

• Duties: Receives consults (prescriptions) for prosthetic devices
• Ensures the legal requirements governing eligibility and entitlement to prosthetic devices are met
• Assists in the repair fabrication - fitting and dispensing of orthotic appliances Interprets consults as submitted by VA clinicians and contacts providers with any questions regarding requested items
• Provides appropriate orthotic appliance and instructs patients on correct use and care
• Completes each order by accurately creating a progress note with CPRS - which includes correct information such as service rendered - diagnosis - CPT code - etc
• Assist in the application of prefabrication appliances such as - but not limited to - lumbo-sacral support - prosthetic socks and sheaths - elbow and ankle supports - elastic support hose - hand splints - soft knee braces - neck collars - abdominal binders - trusses - non-custom in-depth shoes
• Will take measurements of body and limb segments appropriate to the item being fit - and select an off the shelf item - sized appropriately with appropriate model or design - to the patient
• Handles minor orthotic/prosthetic repairs - such as repairs to custom foot orthoses and shoes - using a wide variety of materials
• Assists in managing the applicable orthotic and prosthetic inventory within the Department - which can include conducting routine physical inventory counts - updating inventory and keeping excess inventory to a minimum
• Ensures locations are kept clean and organized
• Required to unpack shipments - check packing slips against orders and contents of the shipments - and assemble the necessary documentation for orthotic and prosthetic items needing to be reordered
• Will answer telephone inquiries directed toward the Service and respond appropriately (e.g. - directly answer the inquiry or direct the individual to another resource) when necessary
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory - qualification - and performance requirements are met
• Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8:00am to 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Health Technician-Ortho Fitter/PD11200O Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
• PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized.