Supervisory Orthotist-Prosthetist

Summary

The general responsibilities of the Supervisory Orthotist-Prosthetist are 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
• ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: Orthotists - prosthetists - or orthotist/prosthetists must be proficient in spoken and written
• 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
• Education Requirement: You must have a bachelor's degree or higher in orthotics and prosthetics from a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited program
• OR - A bachelor's degree or higher in any major along with a post-graduate orthotics or prosthetics certificate from a CAAHEP accredited program
• OR - 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
• Grade Determinations: GS-13 Experience: In addition to meeting all the basic requirements listed above - you must have at least one full 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 and are able to demonstrate the following knowledge - skills and abilities: -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
• GS-13 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.
• -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
• -Ability to supervise
• Supervisory Orthotist/Prosthetist
• The orthotist/prosthetist at this level serves as supervisor of an orthotics/prosthetics laboratory assessing - planning - and evaluating the orthotic/prosthetic program at the facility level to ensure proper coordination between the delivery of orthotic/prosthetic services and the overall delivery of health care
• Responsibilities include assuring the accreditation of the laboratory - regulatory compliance - and a variety of administrative duties such as developing a budget - managing inventory and resources - overseeing contract employees - supervising assigned staff - etc
• The assignment includes performance of the full range of supervisory duties
• This includes responsibility for assignment of duties
• development of performance standards and performance evaluations
• and recommendations for appointment - awards - advancement - and when appropriate - disciplinary action
• etc
• At this level - the orthotist/prosthetist serves as a consultant within orthotic and prosthetic treatment service and with other facility health care staff in evaluating health care delivery to patients
• 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-13
• Physical Requirements: Work requires regular and recurring physical exertion in standing - bending - kneeling - reaching - gripping - pulling and walking
• Sitting is required in meetings and for conducting administrative work
• Work may require physical health - normal use of arms and legs - and good visual and auditory acuity.
  
  

Duties

• Duties to include but not limited to: Planning - developing - and directing an Orthotic-Prosthetic Laboratory and related Clinical Activities at the national - VISN or local level
• Serving as an advisor to physicians - therapists and other medical professionals with regard to indications and contraindications of prosthetic and orthotic componentry - prescription criteria
• Authorizing the purchase - fabrication or repair of prosthetic devices
• Maintaining continuous liaison with manufacturers and dealers of prosthetic supplies - inspecting their facilities and services and participating in the award of prosthetic appliance contracts
• 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 Giving technical and administrative advice and assistance on prosthetic problems toother facilities
• Conducts gait analysis - range of motion - coordination and balance - motor skills - and clinical assessment studies in accordance with occupational principles for unusual conditions - multiple complex interrelated conditions - etc
• Identifies biomechanical condition
• Interviews patients to determine expectations - lifestyle - home/work environment - ability to use the device
• Takes necessary measurements - casts or scans to develop positive molds of the affected area of the body - which are used to create the orthosis and/or prosthesis
• Recognizes physical abnormalities - deviations - and complicating conditions with potentially life-threatening implications
• Assesses patient for indications/contra-indications of appropriate treatment protocols and discusses the assessment with the physician/requesting provider for purposes of developing the overall treatment plan
• Has considerable influence on the development of the plan
• Selects materials and components to be used in fabrication of the device and determines appropriate equipment to be used in fabrication of the device
• Fabricates components - or selects and modifies components - and assembles these into the finished device
• Use CAD/CAM system as appropriate in this process and perform preliminary alignment
• Assesses and/or modifies fit and function of the device as fabricated and makes appropriate modifications to ensure optimum patient outcome
• Evaluates patient's ability to don/doff the device provides training to the patient and/or caregiver in its use and maintenance
• This may also include training the clinical staff
• Explains procedures and processes to the patient to reduce anxiety and gain support and cooperation in all stages of the process
• Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00am- 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not authorized Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized