ART THERAPY CAREER CENTER

This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Lee County Outpatient Clinic in Cape Coral, FL, Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS). The work requires a specialized knowledge of the medical and psychological problems directly related to the use of prosthetic devices and a specialized knowledge and understanding of the fabrication and satisfactory fitting of prosthetic devices. 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 Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may 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. Must satisfy one of the two degrees listed below. 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. 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. Note: 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.*** Grandfathering Provision. 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). Orthotists, prosthetists, or orthotist/prosthetists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Orthotist - Prosthetist - GS-12 Experience. Completion of 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11)* 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. *GS-11 Grade level experiences are: 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, life style, 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). 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) *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. *5. Ability to manage and supervise employees. (If the assignment is supervisory in nature.) The grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. References: Orthotist/Prosthetist Qualification Standard GS-667 - VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G32 ["The general responsibility of the Orthotist-Prosthetist is to provide the most complex clinical and laboratory prosthetic and orthotic services to disabled patients. Included in this series is such work as: Treatment of all amputation levels including upper limb, hip disarticulation levels; 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; This work requires a specialized knowledge of the medical and psychological problems directly related to the use of prosthetic devices; and a specialized knowledge and understanding of the fabrication and satisfactory fitting of prosthetic devices. Duties and functional tasks include but are not limited to the following: Follows established regulations and procedures to insure patient privacy. Identifies biomechanical condition. 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 .. 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 in the development of the 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. Considering the information developed through the assessment as well as time management workload considerations, designs custom devices using standard components to optimize patient performance for difficult and complex conditions; may include CAD/CAM systems. 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. Uses CAD/CAM system as appropriate in this process and performs preliminary alignment. Fits the device on the patient, assures preliminary alignment, and performs subsequent dynamic alignment. Assesses and/or modifies fit and function of the device as fabricated and makes appropriate modifications to insure 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. Maintains the patient's record, including the electronic record, in accordance with established JCAHO/ABC/BOC/Medical CenterNISN policies Attends professional and manufacturer's training seminars. Completes mandatory training per hospital requirements. Maintains professional credentials and/or competency. Observes appropriate, established infection control guidelines. Follows environmental and occupational safety guidelines. Communicates and interacts with physicians, allied health professionals, patient and caregiver in various interdisciplinary clinical settings as a subject matter expert to develop the 0/P treatment plan. (PM&R, Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, vascular, podiatry, oncology, etc.) Conducts in-service training for 0/P staff, VSO's, as well as staff in other disciplines regarding 0/P technologies. Provides guidance and direction to lower graded 0/P staff. Manages the daily operations of a small to medium Lab Plans clinical schedule for Orthotics and Prosthetics and assures appropriate staff coverage Conducts site surveys of commercial vendors to insure vendor regulatory compliance Responsible for accreditation compliance Develops short & long range plans/goals for the lab in accordance with local, VISN, Headquarters direction Manages inventory of stock items, fabrication materials, and components Assures safe workplace considering environmental concerns, OSHA/JCAHO regulations Conducts quality assurance activities Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 20270F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Available Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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