Clarification from the agency

Current, permanent VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System employees (this includes Outpatient Clinics). The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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TCF is a national workforce development program within VHA that was designed to replenish technical staff in critically identified positions. The TCF career fields represent those technical fields where VA-specific knowledge and experience is required for success in the field. Individuals selected follow a formal individual development plan for one-two years during which they are trained and coached by a preceptor who is a subject matter expert within the career field/job specialty. Trainees must remain at the hiring grade level for a minimum of one year. Selectees will be required to sign Mobility, Training, and Continued Service Agreements and Participant Agreement.

The duties of the Non-Supervisory Prosthetic Representative Trainee are to administer, supervise, or perform work concerned with rendering prosthetic and sensory aids services to Veteran-patients. The incumbent trainee will develop intermediate working knowledge and skills in the following technical and administrative areas through orientation visits, instructional objectives, and assigned study, and will be involved in a learning/development role in the following areas:

• Assists with planning, developing, and directing a Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Program at the national, VISN, or local level.
• Assists serving as an advisor to clinicians about the selection, prescription, and acquisition of prosthetic devices involving furnishing information concerning such matters as new developments in the field of prosthetics and sources of supply for such devices.
• Interpreting prescriptions of clinicians to make certain that proper prosthetic devices are selected for, or by, the patients.
• 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.
• Training will expose the incumbent trainee to the full range of Prosthetic Representative duties including data analysis, statistics, budgeting, contracting, procurement, inventory management, human resources, and supervision.

The incumbent trainee will learn how to:

• Authorize and prepare purchase orders
• Monitor contracts for compliance
• Receive, analyze, and process requests for prosthetic equipment and services
• Prepare correspondence including denials and Statements of the Case
• Implement new local and national guidelines, policies, and procedures
• Develop tools that allow monitoring of a quality assurance program in conjunction with The Joint Commission, National Patient, National Patient Safety Goals, and ABC or BOC Standards
• Validate data
• Determine eligibility
• Conduct home and vendor visits
• Process and authorize service and payment of monthly Home O2 program
• Coordinate Prosthetic clinics including Major Medical and Amputee
• Prepare denials and Statements of the Case
• Prepare and process Auto Adaptive Equipment, HISA, and Clothing Allowance benefits
• Procure materials and supplies and maintain an inventory as applicable
• Make and present reports
• Maintain the service for continuous readiness for unannounced surveys
• Develop a partnering relationship with the Union and Veterans Service Organizations

Promotion Potential: This is a developmental position leading to a GS-11, performing assignments intended to broaden skills and provide practical experience leading to progressively more complex assignments performed under progressively less supervision. You will ultimately acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-11. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds.

Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm
Telework: Not eligible
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Prosthetic Representative - TCF Intern/PD95257T
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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.
• 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.
• Trainees must remain in hiring grade for one year prior to being promoted, even if the individual meets qualification/time in grade requirements for a higher grade prior to one year.
• By signing the required service agreement, trainees commit to 3 years of service to VA after successfully completing their two-year training program

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

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.

The hiring grade will be GS-7, with promotion to the GS-9 after one year of satisfactory performance. Upon graduation from this 2 year program, the TCF Trainee would be placed non-competively in the full promotion level of GS 11, again with satisfactory performance.

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.

Experience and Education. Individual must meet at least one of the requirements below:

• (1) Experience. One year of creditable experience that demonstrates: Knowledge of basic anatomy and medical terminology; knowledge of accounting methods; ability to research, analyze, comprehend, and apply decisions; basic knowledge of inventory management procedures; ability to use computer software packages for word processing, spreadsheet development, and database management; and ability to work independently and as a member of a team;

or

• (2) Education. A bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution AND at least 24 semester hours in course work related to health care, public administration, or business. The 24 semester hours could include but is not limited to any combination from the following fields: occupational therapy, physical therapy, kinesiotherapy, social work, psychology, prosthetics, orthotics, respiratory therapy, assistive technology, business law, leadership, healthcare, public administration, or business management. This course work may have been completed within the degree or in addition to the degree;

or

• (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.

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-7 Prosthetic Representative (Developmental Level)
(a) Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level, directly related to the position to be filled.
(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
1. Ability to understand and apply processes, procedures, regulations, and laws as it applies to purchasing and the provision of prosthetic items/services.
2. Ability to coordinate multiple requests for durable medical equipment (DME), including repairs, services, and benefits.
3. Ability to act as a liaison with and work effectively with health care providers, patients, caregivers and vendors to ensure that the most appropriate device and services are received timely.
4. Ability to monitor contractors and vendors for compliance with contract requirements.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G34 -Prosthetic Representative Qualification Standard

Physical Requirements:
While this position is mostly sedentary, certain aspects of this job will require occasional heavy lifting (45 lbs. and over); heavy carrying (15-44 lbs.); moderate carrying (15-44lbs); straight pulling (up to 1 hour); pushing (2 hours); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; climbing, use of legs and arms.

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 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.