Orthotist-Prosthetist - Erie County, United States - Department of Veterans Affairs

Description

Summary

The VISN lead Prosthetist-Orthotist provides leadership for VISN O&P Services and collaborates with the VISN Prosthetic Representative (VPR).

The P&O VISN lead is responsible for planning, developing, and implementing a VISN-wide delivery system for prosthetic and orthotic appliances and related services in coordination with the region's Amputation Rehabilitation Coordinator and prosthetic and orthotic providers.

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Overview

• Accepting applications
• Open & closing dates

05/14/2024 to 05/24/2024

• Salary

$103,409 - $134,435 per year

The salary reflected is the Rest of United States (RUS) pay schedule; Salary will be determined by candidates duty station.

• Pay scale & grade

GS 13

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Locations

1 vacancy in the following locations:

• Wilmington, DE
• Altoona, PA
• Butler, PA
• Coatesville, PA
• Show more locations (5)
• Erie County, PA
• Lebanon, PA
• Philadelphia, PA
• Pittsburgh, PA
• Wilkes Barre, PA
• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

Yes-as determined by the agency policy.

• Travel Required

25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent

• Work schedule

Full-time

• Service

Excepted

• Promotion potential

None

• Job family (Series)

0667 Orthotist And Prosthetist

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Not Required

• Drug test

No

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness

Credentialing

• Announcement number

CBSZ AV

• Control number

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This job is open to

• Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency

Current, permanent VISN 4 employees may apply to this job announcement.

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Duties

VA Careers - Prosthetics:

• Acts as a VISN resource/consultant with significant multidisciplinary involvement in caring for Veterans with amputations.
• Provides expert-level direct clinical skills in the evaluation, prescription formulation, fitting, alignment, and delivery of orthotic and prosthetic devices.
• Considers new and emerging technologies in designing unique or innovative devices to accommodate or treat a wide range of complex medical conditions.
• Utilizes effective communication skills at all levels to enhance team functioning and clinical care.
• Develops, implements, and documents in CPRS the evaluation and treatment plan for an assigned patient caseload.
• Manages the efficient use and ownership of diagnostic equipment such as CAD/CAM and gait analysis equipment.
• Utilizes telehealth practices to enhance the regional care of Veterans with amputations.
• Provides leadership for the VISN, the ASoC, and Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Program to develop and implement a strategic plan to accomplish the VA National Amputation System of Care goals.
• The incumbent ensures that Prosthetic and Orthotic laboratories meet industry standards and provide quality products and services to patients.
• Assesses VA Orthotist/Prosthetist certification and accreditation of VA Orthotic/Prosthetic clinical services.
• Monitors and implements regional compliance for accreditation of Orthotic/Prosthetic clinical services with all relative credentialing organizations, e.g. JC, CARF, NCOPE, ABC, BOC, etc., and certification/registration, competency assessments, peer reviews, and National Provider Identifier registration of all clinical staff within the region.
• Acts as a VA orthotic and prosthetic laboratory representative on prosthetic clinical management workgroups
• Acts as an advisor at various levels relating to prosthetic staff, equipment, space, physical plant, and other material resources associated with Prosthetics and Orthotics, maxi facial prostheses, and other related services.
• Serves as an SME for O&P-related CMS issues.
• May serve as a member of the O&P L-code committee.
• Responsible for compliance of national VA handbooks.
• Monitors and implements VISN education, including via videoconference, in compliance with electronic workload capture, coding, pricing, recording of patient encounters, quality control, and quality assurance measures, check-out procedures, competency assessments, scope of practice reviews, and progress notes of all clinical staff within the region.
• Performs other duties as required.

Work Schedule:
Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm


Telework:
Available


Virtual:
This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 02808-F Orthotist/Prosthetist


Relocation/Recruitment Incentives:
Not authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized


Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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.
• 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.
• 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).

Grade Determinations:
GS-13

• Experience: Completion of 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (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.; 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; Ability to analyze data and provide reports using CPRS, Vista, DSS, HCPCS codes and other patient database information; Ability to provide training to orthotists/prosthetists in new technologies and innovations in devices.)
• 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 ():
• 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.

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.
* *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.
* *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.

References:
VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G32

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements:
Work is primarily sedentary but may involve prolonged standing and/or walking.

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:
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:
Additional information

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:

• 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.
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or certification that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply.

The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive , VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy).

VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations.

If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date.

The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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• Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.

As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members:

Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.