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***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

This position requires specialized training and education to have ABC or BOC certification as a Prosthetics/Orthotics Technician or or be eligible for ABC/BOC certification as a Prosthetics/Orthotics Technician.

Duties include, but may not be limited to the following:

Custom Device Fabrication:

• Follows ABC or BOC scope of practice based upon ABC or BOC certification.
• Follows established regulations and procedures to insure patient privacy.
• Manages the fabrication of custom prosthetic and orthotic appliances including but not limited to plaster modification and preparation of positive models, blister and drape forming plastic materials, lamination using acrylic resins and carbon fiber materials, cutting, trimming and smoothing definitive products in preparation of fitting onto patients.
• Fabricates, adjusts, and repairs all custom prosthetic and orthotic appliances including but not limited to bench alignment procedures, proper ankle and knee component placement, bending metal materials for proper orthotic joint function and shaping and finishing prostheses.
• Chooses materials that are appropriate for patient diagnosis. Evaluates the final product as to the specifications of the prescription.
• Maintains current knowledge of latest items, procedures, and fabrication techniques as related to their scope of practice.

Lab Equipment/Safety Management:

• Maintains lab equipment with respect to maintenance and cleanliness.
• Coordinates large machine, oven, exhaust system, vacuum system maintenance working closely with biomedical engineering, facility engineers and maintenance crews
• Maintains MSDS sheets and prepares the lab for Environmental Safety Rounds
• Maintains inventory of fabrication supplies levels, not to exceed thirty days and the requisitioning of supplies and materials as related to scope of practice.

Medical and O&P Terminology:

• Reviews physical assessment data provided by practitioner to determine technicalrequirements for the orthosis/prosthesis (e.g., height, weight, activity level, diagnoses,amputation level, measurements, prior orthosis/prosthesis usage)
• Consults with practitioner(s) about patient's condition/diagnosis.
• Reviews patient's prescription/referral.

Anatomy:

• Determines need for changes to orthosis/prosthesis, based on the Certified Prosthetist,
• Orthotist or Prosthetist Orthotists assessment of fit and function of device.
• Determines need for changes to orthosis/prosthesis, based on assessment of device, with regard to anatomical relationships to orthotic and/ or prosthetic components (e.g., trim lines, static/dynamic alignment).

Biomechanics

• Verifies function of orthosis and/or prosthesis (e.g., does it perform as required in all planes of motion, are three-point pressure systems appropriate)
• Determines fabrication requirements/technical criteria (e.g., static alignment of orthoses or prostheses)
• Fabricates/assembles an orthosis and/or prosthesis to prepare for initial or diagnostic fitting and/or delivery by Certified O&P practitioner

Other Duties as Assigned:

• Monitors the Delayed Order Reports to identify and address projects in process greater than 30 days.
• Uses visual aid and or consult tracking service software to
• anticipate scheduling of patients and ensure devices are ready to fit for the appointed time.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm.
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized
DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• 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

TO QUALIFY FOR TH POSITION AT THE GS-8:
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position.
and
This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration.

The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: "Having an ABC or BOC certification as a Prosthetic/Orthotic Technician, maintain required continuing education and certification? (Two fitter certifying organization: The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics (ABCOP) and the Board for Orthotic Certification, International (BOC), Each has defined pre-certification education, pre-certification experience, and continuing education requirements)".

and
Specialized Experience GS-8: Having at least one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. Specialized experience includes having knowledge of Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Regulations and Policies, Orthotics and Prosthetics Business Practice Guidelines and Prosthetic and Sensory Aides Business Practice guidelines: Knowledge of the following computer software programs, which are required for processing Orthotic and Prosthetic clinical consults and Prosthetics administrative requests: understanding of a body of standardized orthotic/prosthetic patient care and specialized skill sufficient to perform all levels of Orthotics & Prosthetics (O&P) device fabrication; having a sound awareness of Healthcare Common Procedures Coding System (HCPCS) coding, anatomy and physiology; and a thorough comprehension of standard medical terminology for the human body; ability to review physical assessment data provided by practitioner to determine technical requirements for the orthosis/prosthesis (e.g., height, weight, activity level, diagnoses, amputation level, measurements, prior orthosis/prosthesis usage); and capable of consulting with practitioner(s) about patient's condition/diagnosis, and reviewing of patient's prescription/referral. (This experience must be supported by your resume to be creditable.)
OR
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: You must have successfully completed one and one-half (1 ½) years of graduate education in a field of study directly related to the work of this position? This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. One (1) year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one (1) year of full-time study. If that number cannot be obtained from the school, eighteen (18) semester hours will be considered an academic year of graduate study. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a one (1) year of full-time study at the school attended. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)
OR
COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: You must have the equivalent combinations of specialized experience and successfully completed graduate education as described above to meet the total experience requirements to qualify at the GS-8 level. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)

You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Applies Technology to Tasks
• Mechanical
• Quality Assurance

IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such 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; religious; 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.

Physical Requirements: The Health Technician Restoration position duties require extensive periods of standing and walking. Duties require regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, pushing, reaching, carrying supplies and similar activities. Duties require working with machinery including grinders, ovens, drill presses, and other machinery necessary to fabricate custom limbs and braces.
Duties require the Health Technician to be able to lift. Occasionally it may be necessary to lift supplies and objects weighing as much as fifty (50lbs) pounds. Requires use of proper body mechanics. The Health Technician must be able to work in stressful situations. S/he must be able to maintain tight deadlines to get Veterans equipment in a fast, efficient manner.


For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

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 WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Your responses to the assessment questionnaire will be reviewed along with the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you are qualified for the position. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered and/or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

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.

Candidates who apply under All U.S. Citizens announcements will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The categories are defined as follows:

• Best qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;
• Highly qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the requirements of the job;
• Well qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and
• Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.

Application of Veterans' Preference: Category rating and selection procedures place those with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible applicants that meet the eligibility and qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category (except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher).

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.