Duties

Summary

The Orthotist functions primarily in the Orthotic Laboratory Section of the Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service (P&SAS), Hampton, Virginia VAMC, and is under the supervision of the Supervisory Orthotist. The incumbent performs a broad range of prosthetic/orthotic services designing custom devices using standard components to optimize patient performance for difficult and complex but typical conditions.

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Responsibilities

The duties of the Orthotist in the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service include but are not limited to:

• Performs patient's clinical assessments such as gait, range of motion, life style, etc. for patients with few co morbidities.
• Follows established regulations and procedures to insure patient privacy.
• Assists in the development of prescription criteria for prosthetic devices.
• Fits, fabricates, adjusts, and repairs custom prostheses/orthosis through various methods and material and measures and fits patients for pre-fabricated devices.
• Measures, casts and scans patient to develop positive molds for custom work.
• Prepares negative cast for scanning for the use of digitizer, AD-CAM software and carver, pouring of plaster/alginate and shipping.
• Prepares the positive mold and performs scans, tracing, and impressions of body segments for metal or thermoplastics.
• Performs biomechanical/bench alignment, formation of metal components and bench fabrication for prostheses.
• Evaluates the final product as to the specifications, trim lines, contours, quality, pleasing cosmetic aesthetics and safety of the item.
• Carries out responsibilities of submitting, packing and shipping necessary items as related to work.
• Performs appropriate documentation of workload, procedure coding, inputting progress notes in electronic medical record, appointments, complying with JCAHO requirement, and ensuring all documenting of paperwork is completed and distributed in a timely fashion.
• Maintains current knowledge of new products, procedures, materials and techniques as related to their scope of practice.
• Attends professional seminars and manufacturers' training seminars as related their scope of practice.
• Completes appropriate paperwork for custom in-house fabricated prostheses (OWL).

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Recruitment Incentive: Maybe be available for highly qualified candidate.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
None

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

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.

English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d).

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 Education: 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 (ABC) or the Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification (BOC) as an orthotist. 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:
Orthotist, GS-11

Experience. Completion of 1 year of experience as an orthotist 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. Examples of GS-9 experience includes but not limited to knowledge of the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS), knowledge of medical terminology, psychology and age related competencies, conducting clinical patient analyses, and taking measurements, casts, and scans.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Ability to recognize physical abnormalities, deviations, and complicating conditions with potentially life threatening implications.

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/91, PART II, APPENDIX G32, ORTHOTIST/PROSTHETIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD DATED MARCH 21, 2017. THIS CAN BE FOUND IN THE LOCAL HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

Physical Requirements: Moderate carrying (15-44 pounds), pulling had over hand (.25 hours), pushing (.5 hours), reaching above shoulder, walking (1 hour), standing (1 hour), kneeling (.5 hours), repeated bending, ability to read a computer screen, hearing (aid permitted). Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; hearing aid permitted.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ . 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .

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 view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .

How You Will Be Evaluated

You 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 clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process
Credentialing , Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• VA Form 10-2850c (Application for Associated Health Occupations)
• Proof of board certification by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics (ABC) or the Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification (BOC) as an orthotist.
• Resume
• Transcript

VA Form 10-2850c Application for Associated Health Occupations can be found at: http://www.va.gov/vaforms/search_action.asp?FormNo=2850&tkey=&Action=Search . (This is a required document and failure to submit it with your application documents may result you not being considered for this announcement).

Proof of Board Certification by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC) or the Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification (BOC) as an orthotist. The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirements for continuing education.

Resume - Resume Reminder: Your resume must include the following for each job listed:
1) Job title and grade level/salary. In order to show that you meet time-in-grade, you must document grades you have held and how long you have held them;
2) Duties (you must include enough detailed information to support your specialized experience);
3) Month and year start/end dates (e.g. 04/2007 to 04/2008);
4) Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week);
5) Supervisor's contact information and whether or not the supervisor can be contacted.
6) Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your resume. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail.

Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.

Transcript

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• VA Form 10-2850c (Application for Associated Health Occupations)
• Proof of board certification by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics (ABC) or the Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification (BOC) as an orthotist.
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx .

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.