Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent VA Nationwide employees, Federal employees of other Agencies, and U.S. Citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The duties of the Orthotist/Prosthetist Advanced Practitioner include, but are not limited to:

• Developments customized treatment plans in conjunction with referring physicals and implements those treatment plans and the provision of follow-up care.
• Maintains and monitors accreditation of the CBOC locations served in compliance with ABC rules and regulations.
• Performs a variety of administrative duties such as budget development, managing inventory and resources, overseeing the orthotic and prosthetic schedule, devising short- and long-range goals in accordance with local, VISN, and VHA central office direction, and conducting quality assurance activities.
• Attends virtual interdisciplinary orthotic and prosthetic clinics conducted at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System North Little Rock campus and participates as a member of the treatment team with considerable influence in the development of the treatment plan for the most complex types of conditions.
• Communicates and interacts with physicians, allied health professionals, patients, and caregivers in various interdisciplinary clinical settings, rehabilitation medicine, orthopedics, neurosurgery, vascular care, podiatry, oncology, etc. as a subject matter expert to develop the orthotic and/or prosthetic treatment plan.
• Provides complex patient analysis in accordance with established procedures for patients with unusual conditions, multiple complex conditions, interrelated conditions.
• Assess patient for indications/contraindications and discussion of the assessment with the physician/requesting provider for the purpose of developing the overall treatment plan with considerable influence in the development of that plan.
• Considers new and emerging technologies in designing unique or innovative devices to accommodate or treat a wide range of complex medical conditions which include unusual problems or complications.
• Conducts clinical patient analysis such as gait, range of motion, and lifestyle assessment for patients with a wide range of complex medical conditions which include unusual problems or complications and will design unique devices to accommodate those conditions.
• Performs the necessary procedures to provide custom devices to patients as prescribed by the physician including but not limited to, casting, digitizing, scanning, positive model preparation and modification, selecting appropriate materials and components, thermoforming, trimming, assembling devices, evaluating workmanship and fabrication performed by outside central fabrication facilities, ensuring structural safety and manufacturer recommendations are followed for final delivery to patients.
• Provides ongoing care and periodic evaluation to assure, maintain, and document optimal fit and function of prostheses, orthoses, soft goods, inserts, shoes, and compression devices provided to patients.
• Reviews and triages prosthetics requests daily and communicate with the scheduling team as to which patients to schedule in-house and which to be sent to outside commercial vendors based on a detailed understanding of patient presentation and needs, and clinical availability and resources to meet those needs, and will understand and comply with federal acquisition regulations when sending Veterans to commercial partners for care.
• Provides educational in-services to physician groups such as podiatry, primary care, PMRS, orthopedics, or other groups as assigned.
• Provides training to other Orthotists-Prosthetists, including residents and trainees, in new orthotic and prosthetic technologies and innovations, and particularly those associated with the provision of mobile care.

Work Schedule: Monday - Thursday, 6:30 am - 5:00 pm, subject to change based on the needs of the facility.
Compressed/Flexible:Available
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 598-01242F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• Must be able to independently operate Government Vehicle.
• Must provide clean driving record report from the DMV during the pre-employment process.
• Must possess a valid class C driver's license.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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

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:

GS-12 Orthotist/Prosthetist Advanced Practitioner

Experience. Completion of 1 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.

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 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.
*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 (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.
*3. Ability to analyze data and provide reports using CPRS, Vista, DSS, HCPCS codes and other patient database information.
*4. Ability to provide training to orthotists/prosthetists in new technologies and innovations in devices.

Preferred Experience: 3 years of experience as a Certified Prosthetist/Orthotist

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-12.

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

How you will be evaluated

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

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

• Current permanent VA employees of the Central Arkansas Veteran Healthcare System
• All other VA employees
• Current Permanent Federal employees of other agencies
• All other applicants

Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred based on the Veterans' Preference


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.