Orthotist-Prosthetist

Veterans Health Administration; Las Vegas (NV); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration seeks an experienced orthotist/prosthetist to join the clinical team. The role involves developing treatment plans for complex conditions, attending clinics, and designing innovative devices tailored to patient needs.

Requires ABC/BOC certification, CAAHEP accreditation, and English proficiency. The successful candidate will participate in a multidisciplinary team, contribute to patient analyses, and apply advanced knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics

Qualifications

• US citizenship; non-citizens only when VA policy allows.
• English language proficiency in speaking and writing.
• Education requirements as specified (CAAHEP-accredited program).
• Board certification by ABC or BOC as orthotist/prosthetist; current certification required.

Responsibilities

• Participate as a full clinical team member in treatment plan development for complex conditions.
• Attend clinics and contribute to plan development with advanced medical knowledge.
• Design and adapt orthotic/prosthetic devices to meet patient needs; supervise device innovations.

Skills

Clinical team participation

Data analysis ability (CPRS/Vista)

Training on new technologies

Education

Bachelors in orthotics and prosthetics (CAAHEP)

Bachelors in any major + post-grad orthotics/prosthetics certificate (CAAHEP)

Job description

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval award amount (up to $200,000) eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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: Must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f).
• EDUCATION (1) A bachelor's degree or higher in orthotics and prosthetics from a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited program.
• OR, (2) 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: 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.
• GRADE DETERMINATION: GS 12:GS 12: (a) 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 specialized experience includes but not limited to the following: attends 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, conducts 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, recognizes physical abnormalities, deviations, and complicating conditions with potentially life threatening implications. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). 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 (*): a. 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. *b. 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. *c. Ability to analyze data and provide reports using CPRS, Vista, DSS, HCPCS codes and other patient database information. *d. Ability to provide training to orthotists/prosthetists in new technologies and innovations in devices. 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. Orthotists, prosthetists, or orthotist/prosthetist 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. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Orthotists, prosthetists, o