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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring an Orthotist-Prosthetist Near Muskogee, OK

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) 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

(2) Must have a bachelor's degree or higher in any major along with a post-graduate orthotics or prosthetics certificate from a CAAHEP accredited program.

• 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.
• English Language Proficiency: Orthotists, prosthetists, or orthotist/prosthetists must be proficient in spoken and written as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d).
• 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.

GS-11Experience. Completion of 1 year of experience as an orthotist/prosthetist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-9 that demonstrates possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to provide orthotic/prosthetic services in a hospital setting.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Ability to attend clinics and participate as a fully participating member of the treatment team with considerable influence in the development of the treatment plan. This includes advanced knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, physics, and etiology of diseases as well as knowledge of psychology and age-related competencies.
• Ability to conduct clinical patient analyses such as gait, range of motion, lifestyle, etc., for patients with a wide range of complex medical conditions which include unusual problems or complications, and to design unique or innovative devices to accommodate those conditions.
• Ability to recognize physical abnormalities, deviations, and complicating conditions with potentially life-threatening implications.

Preferred Experience: Must have ABC or BOC certification in Orthotics, or Orthotics AND Prosthetics.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, APPENDIX G32. ORTHOTIST/PROSTHETIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-667

The full performance level of this vacancy is 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is 11.

Physical Requirements: A physical examination will be conducted based on the physical requirements of the position. A physical examination prior to placement is required.

Responsibilities:

Performs a comprehensive assessment of the patient to obtain an understanding of the patients' orthotic/prosthetic needs by:

• Reviewing patient's prescription/referral.
• Taking a comprehensive patient history, including demographic characteristics, family dynamics, previous use of orthoses/prosthesis, diagnosis, work history, vocational activities, signs and symptoms, medical history (including allergies to materials), reimbursement status, patient expectations and results of diagnostic evaluations.
• Assisting in formulating the treatment plan by performing a diagnosis-specific functional clinical examination, including manual muscle-testing, gait assessment and evaluation of sensory function, cognitive ability, range of motion, joint stability, skin integrity and compliance.
• Consulting with other health professionals and caregivers about patient's condition to assist in formulating care a treatment plan.
• Communicating with patient and/or caregiver about the recommended treatment plan, an any optional plans, to involve them in orthotic or prosthetic care; include disclosure of potential risks/ benefits.
• Verifying patient care by documenting history, ongoing care, and follow-up, using established record-keeping techniques.
• Referring patient, if appropriate, to other health care professionals (e.g., psychologist, therapist, and or physician) for intervention beyond orthotic/ prosthetic scope of practice

Create a comprehensive orthotic/prosthetic treatment plan to meet the needs and goals of the patient by:

• Evaluation of the findings to determine an orthotic/prosthetic recommendation.
• Formulating treatment goals and expected orthotic/prosthetic outcomes to reduce pain/increase comfort, enhance function and independence, provide stability, prevent deformity, address cosmoses and/or promote healing.
• Consultation with physician/referral source to modify, if necessary, the original prescription and/ or treatment plan.
• Identifying material design and components to support-anticipated outcome.
• Development of a plan for patient needs, including patient education and follow-up.
• Documenting treatment plan using established record -keeping techniques to verify patient care.

Perform the necessary procedures to deliver the appropriate orthotic/prosthetic services, which may Include fabrication of the orthoses/prosthesis. This includes:

• Informing patient, family and/or caregiver of the orthotic/prosthetic procedure, possible risks and time involved in the procedure.
• Selection of appropriate material/ techniques to implement treatment plan.
• Providing the patient with preparatory care for orthotic/prosthetic treatment (e.g., diagnostic splint, residual limb shrinker).
• Preparing the patient for procedure required to initiate treatment plan (e.g., take impression, digitize, delineate, scan)
• Implementing the procedure (e.g., take impression, digitize, delineate, scan).
• Selecting appropriate materials, components and specifications for orthoses/prosthesis based on patient criteria to ensure optimum strength, durability, and function as required (e.g., choose ankle or knee joints, feet, knee units; choose material of components, lamination lay-ups).
• Consult technical component/ material resources as required.
• Prepare delineation/ impression/ template for modification/fabrication (e.g., prepare impression/ reverse delineation, seal, and fill impression/ pour cast, digitize, strip model, download shape to carver or modification software).
• Modification and preparation of patient model for fabrication.
• Fabrication/ assembly of the prescribed device by assembling selected materials/components to prepare for fitting and/or delivery (e.g., laminate/ vacuum form, remove socket/ orthosis from model, smooth and finish orthosis/prosthesis, contour side bars to model/delineation, smooth and finish sidebars, bench align components to socket, strap orthosis/prosthesis as necessary, perform final assembly of orthosis/ prosthesis for patient fitting/delivery).
• Assessing device for structural safety and ensure that manufacturers' guidelines have been followed prior-to patient fitting/ delivery (e.g., torque values, patient weight limits).
• Assess/align orthosis/prosthesis for accuracy in sagittal, transverse, and coronal planes to provide maximum function/comfort.
• Provide gait training /functional-use training.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Job Summary