Orthotist-Prosthetist Supervisory

Summary

The general responsibilities of the Supervisory Orthotist-Prosthetist at this level is to administer - supervise - or perform work concerned with providing clinical and laboratory prosthetic and orthotic services to disabled patients.

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
• 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
• (copy of transcript is needed) 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
• (copy of transcript is needed) BOARD CERTIFICATION: 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
• GRADE DETERMINATION: GS 13: (a) Experience
• Completion of 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower level (GS 12)
• GS 12 equivalent experience includes but not limited to the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA): 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
• Ability to manage and supervise employees
• (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
• (c) Assignments
• Candidate must consist of significant scope - complexity (difficulty) - and range of variety - and be performed at least 25% of the time
• A Supervisory Orthotist/Prosthetist 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
• 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)
• 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
• (2) 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
• (3) 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
• (4) If an employee who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation - the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• Grade Determinations: Preferred Experience: Certified Prosthetist/Orthotist (CPO) Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is 13
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Must be able to lift at least 45 pounds
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs.
  
  

Duties

• Duties include but not limited to: (1) 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 the VISN level
• (2) Serving as an advisor to physicians - therapists and other medical professionals with regard to indications and contraindications of prosthetic and orthotic componentry - prescription criteria (3) Authorizing the purchase - fabrication or repair of prosthetic devices
• (4) Maintaining continuous liaison with manufacturers and dealers of prosthetic supplies - inspecting their facilities and services and participating in the award of prosthetic appliance contracts
• (5) 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
• and (6) Giving technical and administrative advice and assistance on prosthetic problems to other facilities
• Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 7:30 am to 4:00pm Telework: Ad hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized