Orthotist/Prosthetist (Advanced Practitioner)

Summary

The general responsibility of the Non‑Supervisory Orthotist‑Prosthetist with the Nebraska‑Western Iowa Health Care System (NWIHCS) Orthotics ‑ Prosthetics ‑ Pedorthics Clinical Service (OPPCS) is to provide the most complex clinical and laboratory prosthetic and orthotic services to disabled patients.

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship: Citizen of the United States
• Non‑citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in orthotics and prosthetics from a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited program
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in any major plus a post‑graduate orthotics or prosthetics certificate from a CAAHEP accredited program
• Foreign graduates must have proof of a minimum 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 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
• Board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by continuing‑education requirements
• Certification as a technician, pedorthist, assistant, or fitter does not meet this requirement
• English language proficiency: must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d)
• May qualify based on the Grandfathering Provision described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (applicable only to current VHA employees who meet the criteria)
• GS‑12 experience: one year of experience at the next lower grade level as an orthotist/prosthetist functioning as a full member of the clinical team with significant involvement in treatment‑plan development for the most complex conditions
• Knowledge, skills, and abilities: demonstrate required KSA and potential to acquire assignment‑specific KSAs (marked with an asterisk):
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements established by 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, and knowledge of the National Prosthetic Patient Database (NPPD), Prosthetic National Software (PNS) package, Decision Support System (DSS), and accreditation requirements for 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.
• Advanced practitioner responsibilities: intended for smaller independent laboratories, includes ensuring laboratory accreditation, regulatory compliance, administrative duties such as developing a budget, managing inventory and resources, overseeing contract employees, planning the clinical schedule, conducting vendor site surveys, devising short‑ and long‑range goals in accordance with local VISN and VHA Central Office direction, and conducting quality‑assurance activities.
• Communication: interacts with physicians, allied‑health professionals, patients, and caregivers in interdisciplinary settings—rehabilitation medicine, orthopedics, neurosurgery, vascular care, podiatry, oncology—to develop treatment plans.
• Complex patient analyses in accordance with established procedures for unusual, multiple complex, or interrelated conditions.
• Assessment and discussion with physicians or providers to develop overall treatment plans with significant influence.
• Consideration of new technologies for designing innovative devices to address complex medical conditions.
• Recognition of physical abnormalities, deviations, and complicating conditions potentially life‑threatening.
• Preferred experience: certified prosthetist‑orthotist.
• Ability to evaluate and treat patients requiring complex orthotic or prosthetic devices.
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard—
• Physical requirements: pre‑employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre‑employment process.
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• Advocacy for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers.
• Approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well‑being and live their lives to the fullest.
• Operating in a model with three core elements—personalized health plans for each Veteran—within healing relationships, environments, and connection back to the Veteran’s community.
• Alignment with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to honor America’s veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves health and well‑being.
• Major duties include, but are not limited to:
• Identifying biomechanical conditions.
• Conducting gait analysis, range of motion, coordination and balance, motor skills, and clinical assessment studies per occupational principles for unusual, multiple complex, or interrelated conditions.
• Interviewing patients to determine expectations, lifestyle, home/work environment, and ability to use the device.
• Recognizing physical abnormalities, deviations, and complicating conditions potentially life‑threatening.
• Selecting materials and components for fabrication of the device and determining appropriate equipment.
• Fabricating or modifying components and assembling into the finished device.
• Using CAD/CAM systems appropriately and performing preliminary alignment.
• Fitting the device, assuring preliminary alignment, and performing dynamic alignment.
• Assessing/modifying fit and function of the device and making adjustments to ensure optimum patient outcome.
• Evaluating patient’s ability to don/doff the device, providing training to patient or caregiver, and possibly training clinical staff.
• Communicating with physicians, allied‑health professionals, patients, and caregivers in interdisciplinary settings to develop O/P treatment plans.
• Conducting in‑service training for O/P staff, Veterans Service Organizations, and staff in other disciplines regarding O/P technologies.
• Managing inventory of stock items, fabrication materials, chemicals, and components.
• Ensuring a safe workplace considering environmental concerns and regulations such as OSHA and JCAHO.
• Work schedule: Monday‑Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Telework: not available. Virtual: this is not a virtual position.
• Functional statement #:  . Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): not authorized.