Orthotist-Prosthetist (Advanced Practitioner)

About the role

This vacancy announcement is open to Veterans, Current Permanent Federal Employees Other Agencies, and US Citizens.

Responsibilities

• Analyzes data and provides reports using CPRS, VISTA, DSS, HCPCS codes and other patient database information.
• 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.
• Attends clinics and participates as a fully participating member of the treatment team with considerable influence in the development of the treatment plan for the most complex types of conditions.
• Conducts clinical patient analysis 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 will design unique devices to accommodate those conditions.
• Performs the necessary procedures to provide custom devices to patients as prescribed by the physician.
• Provides ongoing care and periodic evaluation to assure, maintain, and document optimal fit and function of prostheses, orthoses, soft goods, inserts, shoes, and compression devices provided to patients.
• Complies with all policies, procedures and regulations regarding human resource management, physical environment management, business and financial management and organizational management.
• Participates in personal and professional development through continuing education, training, research and organizational affiliations.

Requirements

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: 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. 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).

Qualifications

Grade Determinations for GS-12 Orthotist/Prosthetist (Advanced Practitioner):

• 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.
• 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 (*):
• 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.
• Ability to analyze data and provide reports using CPRS, Vista, DSS, HCPCS codes and other patient database information.
• Ability to provide training to orthotists/prosthetists in new technologies and innovations in devices.