Orthotist/Prosthetist- Advanced Practitioner

Advanced Clinical Orthotist-Prosthetist operating the Mobile Prosthetic and Orthotic Care (MoPOC) program for Puget Sound VA Medical Center. Independently manages a mobile lab, traveling to VA Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) to deliver clinical care, administrative oversight, and accreditation compliance. As sole on-site provider, treats clinically complex cases including multiple limb amputations and mobility disabilities, independently developing and implementing treatment plans.

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Clinical Care

Independently manages and operates a small mobile lab, traveling via a specialized vehicle (Ford Transit 350) equipped as a mobile orthotics and prosthetics workshop/laboratory to serve assigned Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) three days per week, with one day reserved for administrative duties, fabrication, and occasional home visits

• Provides care for clinically complex cases, including at least 25% of caseload involving Veterans with multiple limb amputations and mobility disabilities from diagnoses such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and stroke
• Conducts complex patient analyses, including gait, range of motion, and lifestyle assessments, discussing findings with physicians to develop treatment plans with considerable influence
• Recognizes complicating conditions with potentially life-threatening implications, and designs innovative devices for complex or unusual conditions
• Develops customized treatment plans with referring physicians, implements plans, and provides follow-up and periodic evaluation to maintain optimal device fit and function

Device Fabrication and Technical Procedures

• Performs procedures to provide custom devices as prescribed, including casting, digitizing, scanning, model preparation and modification, material selection, thermoforming, trimming, and assembling devices
• Evaluates workmanship from outside fabrication facilities, ensuring structural safety and manufacturer compliance prior to patient delivery

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Regularly attends interdisciplinary clinics virtually at American Lake VA Medical Center (VAMC) as a full treatment team member with considerable influence on complex treatment plans
• Serves as subject matter expert across settings including rehabilitation medicine, orthopedics, neurosurgery, vascular care, podiatry, and oncology

Accreditation, Compliance, and Regulatory Knowledge

• Assures CBOC accreditation per American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics (ABC) rules, maintaining knowledge of requirements from the Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC), National Commission for Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE), International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO), American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (AAOP), and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
• Complies with federal acquisition regulations for vendor referrals, conducts site surveys of vendors within 25 miles of served CBOCs, and oversees contracted employees' work when applicable

Administrative and Resource Management

• Oversees budget development, inventory and resource management, and scheduling; devises goals aligned with Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) direction; conducts quality assurance activities
• Reviews and triages prosthetics requests daily, coordinating in-house versus outside vendor care based on patient needs and resource availability
• Manages a patient caseload and completes documentation in systems including Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA), Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS), and Online Workload System (OWLS)
• Performs inventory stock-posting, manages mobile lab equipment, places patient-specific orders, and reviews vendor quotes
• Analyzes data and generates reports using CPRS, VistA, Decision Support System (DSS), and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes
• May provide oversight of fitters and/or technicians as assigned

Education and Training

• Provides educational in-services to physician groups, including podiatry, primary care, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PMRS), and orthopedics
• Trains other Orthotists-Prosthetists, including residents and trainees, in new technologies related to mobile care delivery

Certification and Professional Development

• Maintains certification as both an Orthotist and Prosthetist through ABC, including continuing education and VA-required Talent Management System (TMS) training

Work Schedule: Tuesday-Friday 6:00AM-4:30PM (subject to change dependent on services needs).
Compressed/Flexible: Yes.
Telework: Ad-hoc, not on a reoccurring basis
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Preferred Experience: CPO with 3 plus years of clinical experience; Experience providing mobile care preferred; Must possess a valid, standard US Drivers License. This is a mobile position where the clinician will drive a van to local clinics and veterans homes to provide care. Please note that drive time is included in the Tour of Duty (TOD).

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

• 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 identification 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.

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.