The Prosthetist performs a broad range of prosthetic services designing custom devices using standard components to optimize patient performance for difficult and complex but typical conditions. Incumbent does attend clinic(s) independently. Travel is required, for O&P care, weekly (2-3 days/ week) to the Ann Arbor VAMC for the provision of custom made prosthetic and orthotic appliances. Travel to other VAMC's within VISN 10 may be required.

Duties

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. VA Careers - Prosthetics: https://youtube.com/embed/3NUvF5jjErQ Certification in Prosthetics (CP), Orthotics (CO) or both (CPO) is required for this position. Certification is required at the practitioner level 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. Certification/Registration as a technician, fitter or pedorthist does not meet this requirement. The work involves identification of the biomechanical condition; explaining procedures to patients to reduce anxiety and gain support and cooperation; detailed patient assessment including conducting gait analysis, range of motion, coordination and balance and motor skills; interviewing patients for lifestyle assessments; taking necessary measurements, casts, or scans to develop positive molds; recognizing physical abnormalities, deviations and complicating conditions; fabricating, fitting and evaluating these custom devices; and maintenance of the patient's record. Follows established regulations and procedures to insure patient privacy. Independently performs patient's clinical assessments such as gait, range of motion, life style, etc. for patients with few co morbidities. Involved in the development of prescription criteria for prosthetic devices. Fits, fabricates, adjusts, and repairs custom and pre-fabricated prosthetic and orthotic devices through various methods and materials. Measures, casts and scans patient to develop positive molds for custom designs. Can prepare negative cast for scanning for the use of digitizer, CAD-CAM software and carver, pouring of plaster/alginate and shipping. Prepares the positive mold and performs scans, tracing, and impressions of body segments for metal or thermoplastics. Performs biomechanical/bench alignment, formation of metal components and bench fabrication for prostheses. Is responsible for following all manufacture's specifications related to patient safety, lab safety and component safety. Evaluates the final product as to the specifications, trim lines, contours, quality, pleasing cosmetic aesthetics. Carries out responsibilities of submitting, packing and shipping necessary items as related to work. Performs appropriate documentation of workload, procedure coding, in putting progress notes in electronic medical record, appointments, complying with Joint Commission requirements, and ensuring all documenting paperwork is completed and distributed in a timely fashion according to hospital guidelines. Maintains current knowledge of new products, procedures, materials and techniques as related to their scope of practice. Attends professional seminars and manufacturers' training seminars as related to their scope of practice. Completes mandatory training per hospital requirements. Completes all ordering utilizing the FLOW workflow management system to accurately track all custom Prosthetic and or Orthotic orders. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00a.m - 4:30p.m. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91576-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Learn more

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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. 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. c. Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign degree programs must have proof of a minimum of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as verified through an independent credential evaluation company), with a specialization in orthotics and prosthetics. d. 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 anorthotist, 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. e. Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain the requiredcertification must be removed from the occupation which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation for which he/she qualifies if a placement opportunity exists. f. Grandfathering Provision. Orthotists, prosthetists, or orthotist/prosthetists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Orthotists, prosthetists, or orthotist/prosthetists that do not meet the basic requirements for education and certification may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance(journey) level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. 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 Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Completion of one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level as an orthotist/prosthetist functioning as a full member of the clinical team which includes significant involvement in treatment plan development for the most complex types of conditions. 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 the ABC, BOC, the National Committee for Orthotic/Prosthetic Education (NCOPE), the International Association of Orthotists and Prosthetists(IAOP), the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (AAOP), Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), etc. *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 (NPPD), knowledge of the Prosthetic National Software (PNS) package, Decision Support System (DSS), and knowledge of accreditation requirements for orthotic and prosthetic laboratories and certification requirements for individuals. *3. Ability to analyze data and provide reports using CPRS, VISTA, DSS, HCPCS codes and other patient database information. *4. Ability to provide training to orthotists/prosthetists in new technologies and innovtions in devices. Preferred Experience: At least 3 years of Prosthetic experience in the provision of artificial limbs as a certified clinician. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 25 pounds of force frequently to move objects. This could include moving objects such as pieces of equipment and assistance in moving clients.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address John D Dingell Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 4646 John R Street Detroit, MI 48201 US
• Name: Mary Ann Kalis Jordan
• Phone: (313) 917-7841
• Email: [email protected]