Health Technician (Pedorthist)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Vero Beach (FL); On-site; USD 48,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Recruitment incentive

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Health Technician (Pedorthist) at the VA Clinic Indian River in VISN 8. You will assess Veteran patients, design and fabricate orthopedic footwear and devices, ensure prescription accuracy, and support mobility through advanced pedorthic treatment and patient education.

The role requires board certification in pedorthics, strong English proficiency, and will operate in a clinical setting within the VA system, with standard M-F hours.

Qualifications

• Board certification in pedorthics by ABC or BOC.
• US Citizenship and English language proficiency required.

Responsibilities

• Assess Veterans to develop pedorthic treatment plans.
• Design and fabricate orthopedic footwear and devices.
• Ensure prescription accuracy for pedorthic devices.
• Provide patient education to improve mobility and comfort.
• Communicate with physicians and other health professionals to develop the treatment plan.
• Take measurements, casts, and assist in device fabrication.

Skills

Pedorthics

English proficiency

Job description

Summary

Health Technician (Pedorthist) position in the Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) in the VA Clinic Indian River FL in VISN8. Provides specialized pedorthic care by assessing patients - designing and fabricating orthopedic footwear and devices - ensuring prescription accuracy - and supporting mobility and comfort through advanced pedorthic treatment and patient education.

Summary

Health Technician (Pedorthist) position in the Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) in the VA Clinic Indian River FL in VISN8. Provides specialized pedorthic care by assessing patients - designing and fabricating orthopedic footwear and devices - ensuring prescription accuracy - and supporting mobility and comfort through advanced pedorthic treatment and patient education.

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.

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
• Health Technician (Pedorthist) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.
• 7403(f)
• Credential / Certification-Documentation Submitted
• Candidates must be board certified in pedorthics by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics - Prosthetics and Pedorthics (ABC)
• or - Credentialed in pedorthics by the Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC)
• Applicants 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)
• Grandfathering Provision
• Employees in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series - under a permanent - appropriate and legal placement - performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held - including positive education and credentialing/certification - where applicable
• The following provisions apply to employees who do not meet all the qualification requirements: Employees may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or be newly placed in a supervisory or managerial positions
• Employees in an occupation that requires a credentialing only at higher grade levels must meet the credentialing requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtains credentialing/certification that meets all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• Grade Determinations:Health Technician (Pedorthist) GS-7 Experience
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6) which includes the following: Skill in developing a follow up treatment plan for complex pedorthic device types
• Ability to process paperwork for pedorthic devices being produced and fitted by vendor
• Ability to place administrative orders with procurement staff for treatment modalities
• Ability to assess device types for structural soundness and meeting the specifications of the prescription
• Ability to process consults/orders
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs) In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs
• Skill in designing advanced pedorthic devices
• Skill in assessing device types for structural soundness and meeting the specifications of the prescription
• Skill in written communication
• Skill in oral communication
• Skill in fabrication of all pedorthic device types
• Skill in designing innovative pedorthic devices to include new and emerging technology
• Preferred Experience: Certified Pedorthist (CPed) Orthotic Fitter Certification Mastectomy Fitter Experience 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-07
• Physical Requirements: The incumbent performs work in an office setting involving everyday risks or discomforts
• The incumbent may visit clinics - units - stock rooms - warehouse areas and vendor's shops
• The work is performed in a medical center with the possibility of encountering ill or diseased patients
• The incumbent may handle equipment returned from patients with contagious diseases
• Normal safety precautions are required
• Continuous walking - standing - stooping - bending - and lifting - is required in the performance of assigned duties
• Incumbent will be required to lift items weighing up to 50lbs.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional As a key member of our interdisciplinary team - you will independently assess Veteran patients with complex needs to formulate and implement pedorthic treatment plans
• You will specialize in fitting orthotic devices-including shoes and bracing-while ensuring high-quality patient outcomes and improving compliance in our Orthotic Laboratory
• Primary duties - but not limited too: Communicates and interacts with physicians - allied health professionals - patients - and caregivers in various interdisciplinary clinical settings as a subject matter expert to develop the pedorthic treatment plan
• Provides complex patient analyses in accordance with established procedures for patients with unusual conditions - multiple complex conditions - and interrelated conditions
• Assess patients for indications/contraindications
• Discusses the assessment with the physician/requesting provider for the purpose of developing the overall treatment plan with considerable influence in the development of the plan
• Analyzes the potential use of new and emerging technologies in designing unique or innovative pedorthic devices to accommodate or treat a wide range of complex medical conditions which include unusual problems or complications
• Takes scans and measurements for advanced devices - prepares and modifies casts for advanced devices - repairs and fabricates advanced devices and provides patient/caregiver education for advanced devices
• Recognizes physical abnormalities - deviations - and complicating conditions with potentially life-threatening implications
• Privileges (Individual Scope of Practice) other credentialled clinicians to provide pedorthic care based on ABC privileging requirements
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 41449F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: A recruitment incentive is authorized for this position to address documented difficulty in filling Health Technician (Pedorthist) roles at the Indian River VA Clinic
• Labor-market data shows limited candidate availability - and strong demand for certified Pedorthists
• This incentive is intended to support successful hiring for this free-standing clinic - where specialized certification (Cped - American Board for Certification) is required.