The Supervisory Prosthetist/Orthotist serves as the Chief of the Orthotic & Prosthetic(O&P) Lab in the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS), Fargo VA HCS Health Care System (FAR) laboratory and staff. The duties of the Supervisory Certified Prosthetist/Orthotist are to administer, or perform work concerned with rendering prosthetic and sensory aids services to disabled patients.

Duties

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. Included in this series is such work as: Planning, developing, and directing an Orthotic-Prosthetic Laboratory and related Clinical Activities at the National, VISN or local level; with an emphasis as a consultant for clinical prosthetics and orthotics at FAR. Serving as an advisor to physicians, therapists and other medical professionals with regard to indications and contraindications of prosthetic and orthotic componentry, prescription criteria. Authorizing the purchase, fabrication or repair of prosthetic devices. Maintaining continuous liaison with manufacturers and dealers of prosthetic supplies, inspecting their facilities and services and participating in the award of prosthetic appliance contracts. Participating in investigative/research project studies by selecting patients as pilot wearers of newly developed prosthetic items, evaluating the usefulness of such items and compiling of data. Giving technical and administrative advice and assistance on prosthetic problems to other facilities. Supervising assigned staff to include the O&P service, inventory and wheeled mobility technician staff. Follows established regulations and procedures to insure patient privacy. The incumbent is responsible for the overall management of laboratory staff, inventory staff, wheeled mobility staff, equipment, physical plant and other material sources relating to the prosthetic/orthotic laboratories and wheeled mobility within designated facilities. Ensures that Congressional, Central Office, and other legal requirements pertaining to eligibility and entitlement are maintained and that proper prosthetic and orthotic devices are issued. Independently performs patient's clinical assessments such as gait analysis, range of motion, coordination/balance, motor skills and life style, etc. for patients with few or complex comorbidities. Completes clinical assessment studies in accordance with occupational principles for unusual conditions and multiple complex interrelated conditions. Creates a comprehensive prosthetic/orthotic treatment plan to meet the needs and goals of the patient. Recognizes physical abnormalities, deviations, and complicating conditions with potentially life threatening implications. Measures, casts and scans patient to develop positive molds for custom work and custom molded footwear. Complies with policies, procedures and regulations regarding human resource management, physical environment management, business/financial management and management. Adheres to established policies and procedures in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations as well as professional and ethical guidelines (e.g. FDA, ADA, OSHA, MSDA, ABC and BOC). Adheres to personnel policies and procedures (benefits, training, incentives, staff recognition, and regular performance appraisals). Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 am-4:30 pm Telework: Ad Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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: (1) A bachelor's degree or higher in orthotics and prosthetics from a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited program. OR, (2) 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). 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 Determination GS-13 (a) Experience. Completion of 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (b) 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 (*): 1. 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. *2. 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. *3. 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. *4. 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. *5. Ability to supervise. (To be used if the assignment is supervisory in nature.) (c) 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. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G32 Orthotist/Prosthetist Qualification Standard, Veterans Health Administration.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application.

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 Fargo VA Medical Center 2101 Elm Street Fargo, ND 58102 US
• Name: Brittney Deery
• Phone: 701-239-3700 X3671
• Email: [email protected]