The Chief Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) is responsible for all Prosthetic and Orthotic activity at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center and four Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).

Duties

The incumbent serves as a Chief Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS); responsible for supervising all phases of prosthetic operations. The incumbent serves as an expert advisor analyzing, evaluating, planning, developing, and administering work concerned with prosthetic and sensory aids services to patients throughout the VHA. Duties include, but are not limited to: Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates and assigns work based on priorities. Provides direction and guidance in accomplishing major milestones, goals, and objectives. Evaluates work performed by employees; interviews candidates for positions and makes selections; hears and resolves employee complaints and grievances; counsels employees and initiates disciplinary actions. Identifies developmental and training needs to ensure organizational proficiency. Manages time and leave. Develops functional statements, performance standards and competencies. Recommends promotions, and special advancements for performance and advancements for achievements. Adjusts workloads and projects and forecast future work. Plans, develops, organizes, directs, manages, controls, implements, and evaluates programs for the Service. Manages and provides oversight for multiple programs at the local level and interacts with other government agencies and standards organizations. Develops local policies and procedures consistent with national policies and procedures. Ensures proper coordination between care delivered by PSAS and the overall delivery of healthcare within the facility. Assists in drafting and/or recommending national policies. Implements new, local, and national programs, guidelines, policies and directives. Oversees the operation of the Prosthetic, Orthotic, and Optical Laboratories including restorations. Advises the VA Central Office and VISN in the development of PSAS policies. Implements new, local, and national guidelines and directives. Provides oversight to facility PSAS programs to achieve mission goals. Establishes short and long-term strategic plans to ensure that programs are managed in a manner that enhances the achievement of goals and objectives. Develops proposals, business plans, and action plans to improve effectiveness. Ensures the effective utilization of resources to include space, equipment, supplies, and personnel. Plans and prepares budget estimates. Manages special purpose prosthetics funding and ensures proper cost controls and spending procedures throughout the service. Serves as a technical advisor and subject matter expert in prosthetic and sensory aids. Advises clinicians with regards to selection, prescription, and acquisition of prosthetic devices. Furnishes information on developments in the field of prosthetics and sources of supply for such devices. Keeps abreast of current issues in the health care industry and technological advances. Interprets prescriptions of clinicians to make certain that medically indicated prosthetic devices and/or services are prescribed for patients. Authorizes the purchase, fabrication, or repair of prosthetic devices. Maintains continuous liaison with manufacturers and dealers of prosthetic supplies. Inspects their facilities and services and participates in the award of prosthetic appliance contracts. Coordinates Facility level reviews and monitoring of specialty programs that include Clothing Allowance, Home Oxygen, Automobile Adaptive Equipment, and Home and Structural Alterations to assure all program activities are carried out in accordance with eligibility requirements and VHA regulations. Processes and authorizes service and payment of monthly Home O2 program. Reviews, monitors, analyzes, and evaluates the results of various databases' prosthetics data referring to staff for guidance. Determines eligibility for prosthetic services/items for veterans. Reviews veterans medical and administrative files; interview veterans; inspects equipment and appliances; and authorizes benefit payments and reimbursements. Ensures that The Joint Commission standards of care is implemented. Develops Statement of Work or performance work statements for contracts. Confers with contractors and other healthcare workers on organizational requirements. Inspects and recommends approval of contractor prosthetic shops. Coordinates and participates in team and clinic discussions with the Major Medical Equipment Committee (MMEC), the Preventive Amputee Care Team (PACT), and Home Improvement and Structural Alterations (HISA) to ensure the most appropriate items are issued and to ensure cost effectiveness. Ensures clinic decisions are based on national PSAS policy. Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 Monday - Friday Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91624-0 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. b. Experience and Education. Individual must meet at least one of the requirements below. Experience. One year of creditable experience that demonstrates: Knowledge of basic anatomy and medical terminology; knowledge of accounting methods; ability to research, analyze, comprehend, and apply decisions; basic knowledge of inventory management procedures; ability to use computer software packages for word processing, spreadsheet development, and database management; and ability to work independently and as a member of a team; or Education. A bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution AND at least 24 semester hours in course work related to health care, public administration, or business. The 24 semester hours could include but is not limited to any combination from the following fields: occupational therapy, physical therapy, kinesiotherapy, social work, psychology, prosthetics, orthotics, respiratory therapy, assistive technology, business law, leadership, healthcare, public administration, or business management. This course work may have been completed within the degree or in addition to the degree; or Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Grade Determinations: GS-13 Prosthetic Representative (Service Chief) (a) Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of directives, handbooks, clinical practice guidelines, and regulations that apply to Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service to resolve complex, controversial, or precedent-setting matters. Ability to manage specialty prosthetic services. This includes the ability to provide specialty services based on the unique needs of the patient. Skill and ability to effectively advise senior management officials. Ability to manage a health care program that provides home medical equipment, rehabilitation services, home oxygen, visual or hearing impairment devices, assistive technology, orthotics, or prosthetics. Ability to supervise/manage through subordinate supervisors the activities of prosthetic representatives that have diverse functions. Ability to establish and monitor productivity standards and production and performance priorities. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G34 dated January 18. 2018 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.

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.

Contacts

• Address Battle Creek VA Medical Center 5500 Armstrong Road Battle Creek, MI 49037 US
• Name: Alicia Badgley
• Phone: 269-873-3567
• Email: [email protected]