This position functions as a Health Technician in the Prosthetics Service at either the John Cochran or Jefferson Barracks Division of the VA St. Louis Health Care System (VASTLHCS). The position's primary responsibilities are to fit and dispense non-custom orthotic soft goods, review, and fulfill incoming consult requests, post items to patient records, and provide customer service to Veterans and clinicians.

Duties

Practical knowledge of orthotic materials and their proper applications, safety standards and infection control to effectively fit and apply a wide variety of orthotic and prosthetic devices. Practical experience with the materials being utilized and their properties; plastics, polymers, cloth materials, and metals to make minor modifications to the devices. Ability to read, understand and interpret prescriptions as they pertain to orthotics and prosthetics. Understanding of techniques and sequences followed in undertaking the development of prescription orthotic or prosthetic appliances. Knowledge of physiology, anatomy, kinesiology, and tissue characteristics to make appropriate applications of orthopedic soft goods. Ability to utilize originality, resourcefulness, ingenuity, and sound judgement in the resolution of the wide variety of problems encountered in the performance of duties involving a full-service orthotic-prosthetic laboratory. A thorough understanding of, and ability to, explain to others the fundamentals of current orthotics. Ability to recognize the comprehensive nature of mobility problems of the disabled, particularly those in our aging population. Knowledge of HIPPA and OSHA guidelines and how to access web sites via the computer to locate guidelines governing both. Ability to effectively communicate with all levels of staff, both clinical and administrative, as well as with patients and their families, to discuss all aspects of orthotic restoration. 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 - 4:30pm Telework: Not Eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD10061-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/17/2023. 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-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. 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. 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: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Assisting with the repair, engineering, fitting, and dispensing of orthotic appliances, interpreting clinician submitted consults and ensures legal requirements governing eligibility and entitlement are met, contacting provider with questions regarding requested item and documents all clinical information in the electronic medical record (CPRS), posting stock issues for the items issued to patients and packaging/mailing items to patient's home, performs patient screenings related to fittings and prosthetics program matters, providing appropriate non-custom orthotic appliance and instructs patients on correct use and care, applying prefabricated orthopedic devices (lumbo-sacral supports, abdominal binders, cervical collars, wrist splits, arm slings, knee brace, knee sleeves, compression hose, ankle supports, trusses, non-custom in-depth shoes, over-the-counter foot orthotics, etc.) with limited supervision, take measurements of body and limb segments to appropriately select, size, and fit device to the patient. Provides information on alternative (non-VA) contract providers based on patient need and preference, constructs/shapes and repairs common orthotic/prosthetic devices from case and/or documents provided by clinician, using a wide variety of materials - adheres to specifications, and conforms to models and tracings provided by the certified practitioner requesting the service, repairs leather, metal, plastic and fabric components to items such as orthotic soft goods, shoes, and shoe inserts, monitors incoming consult requests to ensure completeness, appropriateness of request, proper documentation, patient eligibility criteria, compliance with mandates and timely completion. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: CommunicationCustomer Service (Clerical/Technical)Interpersonal EffectivenessMedical InformationTechnical 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 position demands a moderate degree of exertion and a high degree of dexterity, long periods of standing and long-distance walking from clinic to clinic is required. Other physical demands will include but is not limited to; bending, kneeling, some lifting (not to exceed 50 pounds) and work with some power tools. 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/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

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.

Contacts

• Address VA St Louis Health Care System 1 Jefferson Barracks Drive St. Louis, MO 63125 US
• Name: Nicole Cyrus
• Email: [email protected]