The general responsibilities of the Supervisory Orthotist-Prosthetist at this level is to administer, supervise, or perform work concerned with providing clinical and laboratory prosthetic and orthotic services to disabled patients. This work requires a specialized knowledge of the medical and psychological problems directly related to the use of prosthetic devices, and a specialized knowledge and understanding of the fabrication and satisfactory fitting of prosthetic devices. 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. 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. English Language Proficiency: Orthotists, prosthetists, or orthotist/prosthetists must be proficient in spoken and written as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d). Grade Determination: GS-13 Supervisory Orthotist/Prosthetist Experience: Completion of 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. 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 ABC, BOC, NCOPE, IAOP, AAOP, JCAHO, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMMS), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), etc., in order to provide advice to VISN management of the implementation of those requirements. 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, a knowledge of the Prosthetic National Software package, CPRS, DSS and knowledge of accreditation requirements for orthotic and prosthetic laboratories and knowledge of certification requirements for clinical staff in order to develop VISN guidelines and policies, allocate resources within the VISN, and project future workload for the VISN. Ability to analyze data and provide reports using HCPC codes and other patient database information from VISN orthotic and prosthetic laboratories and to provide such reports to VISN management. Ability to serve as a consultant to orthotists/prosthetists within the VISN on emerging technologies, the most difficult and complex cases, changes in policy, etc. Ability to supervise. 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: Supervisory Orthotist/Prosthetist: The orthotist/prosthetist at this level serves as the supervisor and laboratory manager for large laboratories or multiple satellite laboratories. In addition to the responsibilities described at the GS-12 level, this assignment includes serving as a VISN resource/consultant for orthotics and prosthetics; performing or overseeing testing and evaluation of design concepts; overseeing and evaluating contract orthotics and prosthetics vendors. Preferred Experience: Certified Prosthetist Orthotist (CPO) The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-13. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; Subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not require: Not Required Duties for the Supervisor Orthotist-Prosthetist may include but are not limited to: 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 orthoses and/or prostheses. 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. 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 work load 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 on a VISN level. 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. Manages and Administers CAD/CAM operation for the VISN as a Clinical Fabrication facility; overseeing these systems. Fits device on 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. Maintains the patient's record, including the electronic record, in accordance with established JCAHO/ABC/BOC regulatory guidelines for records. Attends professional and manufacturer's training seminars. 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.). On a VISN level, provides guidance and direction to lower graded O/P staff. Manages the daily operations of a Large Lab or VISN Labs. Plans clinical schedule for Orthotics and Prosthetics, conducts site surveys of commercial vendors to insure vendor regulatory compliance, evaluates the ability of a vendor to provide a product. On a VISN level, is responsible for accreditation compliance. Develops short & long range plans/goals for the lab in accordance with local, VISN, Headquarters direction. Develops budget plan for lab. Manages inventory of stock items, fabrication materials, and components. Conducts quality assurance activities. Assigns workload giving due consideration to priorities, requisite needs, and capabilities of the Prosthetic/Orthotic Lab. Evaluates performance and competencies on a VISN level. Analyzes training/developmental needs of subordinate employees and makes provisions for this training on a VISN level. Allocates resources within budget and time and staff constraints; effectively using all resources. Other related duties as assigned. Preferred Experience: Certified Prosthetist Orthotist (CPO)"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
