The position of Health Technician (Orthotic Fitter) is located within the Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Department in the VA Caribbean Health Care System. Selectee(s) will design, fabricate, repair, modify and fit a wide range of custom, non-custom prosthetic-orthotic devices prescribed by physicians. This position has a high degree of visibility throughout the medical center and general public as a result of direct patient care. The selectee should be highly motivated to accomplish the VA mission.

Duties

Include, but are not limited to: Measure, design, fabricate and fit orthoses and prothesis and repairs appliances, such as corsets, belts, trusses, orthopedic shoes, or simple braces for cases which require standard techniques. Interpret physician prescriptions, measures, fits appliances to clients with a variety of conditions that often require adapting standard techniques. Assist in assembly of components for custom orthotic/prosthetic devices. Measure, fabricate and fit patients with orthotics devices. Order and maintain inventory of prefabricated prosthetic and orthotics devices to meet anticipated needs of patients and to be able to respond with minimum delay to prescription from physicians and request for replacement from veterans. Responsible for instruction resident physician and other medical staff in the prescription and application of various orthoses. Serve as technical advisor to physicians, nurses, therapist and other staff members in the use and application of appliances. Prepare molds, arch supports, custom made/repair devices and any type of modification required ensuring proper fit and function of devices. Make independent determination of the most appropriate device based on veterans disability, age, activity level and type of living circumstances. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Orthotic Fitter)/PD01294A and PD012940 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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, 06/13/2024. 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-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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. This occupational series has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) which is a minimum qualification requirement. To be considered for the position, you must ensure that the experience is reflected in your resume and/or if applicable, transcripts must be uploaded to support education requirement or substitution. Individual Occupational Requirements Specialized Experience: Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: Experience in a large complex facility counseling patients, family members, caregivers, etc. Receive and analyzes prosthetic requests and prescriptions for prosthetics- orthotics item, designing, fabricating, repairing, modifying and fitting a wide range of custom, non-custom prosthetic-orthotic devices. Identifies priorities in pending request. Tracking request in the software in order to ensure requests are completed within the time frame. Measures, designs, fabricates and fits orthoses and prosthesis and repairs appliances, such as corsets, belts, trusses, orthopedic shoes, or simple braces for cases which require standard techniques. Operates the prosthetics software package to maintain a detailed and accurate accounting of all transactions taken for veterans and documents their records. Minimum Qualification- You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Demonstrating knowledge of a body of standardized orthotic patient care and specialized skill sufficient to perform procedures such as fabrication, applying casts, slings, braces, and splints. Demonstrating knowledge of reading prescriptions. Demonstrating knowledge of medical terminology for the human body, along with physical and emotional reactions generally occurring with a disability. Ability to take measurements using the appropriate equipment usually found in an Orthotic-Prosthetic Lab. Demonstrating sound knowledge of coding, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology. Demonstrating knowledge of data entry, to include, but not limited to accurately closing out orthotic work orders, appointment management, and using operating systems for electronic consult/progress notes. Possessing complete knowledge of all safety issues required in orthotic machine operation. Providing care that is appropriate to the cognitive, emotional, and/or chronological maturation needs of the adult and/or geriatric patient. Using own initiative and assuming responsibility for all functions in the Fitting Room and Ortho lab by exercising individual judgement. Maintaining personal, professional contacts. Maintaining confidentiality of sensitive data or information. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Computer SkillsCustomer ServiceQuality ManagementTechnical 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: Duties require extensive periods of standing and walking. Duties require regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, pushing, reaching, carrying supplies and similar activities. Duties require selectee to be able to lift. Occasionally it may be necessary to lift supplies and objects weighing as much as 50 pounds. Requires use of proper body mechanics. 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.

Contacts

• Address San Juan VA Medical Center 10 Calle Casia San Juan, PR 00921 US
• Name: Ashley Smith
• Phone: 8504496709
• Email: [email protected]