Summary This position is located in the Prosthetic-Orthotic Laboratory, within the Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Department, at the Cincinnati VAMC. The personnel in the lab design, fabricate, repair, modify and fit a wide range of custom, non-custom prosthetic-orthotic devices prescribed by physicians. In this position, the Health Technician will perform fitting and adjustments of off the shelf items and some specific specially ordered items. Responsibilities The duties of the Health Technician in this position will include: Measures and Fits Patients: Under the guidance of the Prosthetist/Orthotist, fits clients with devices prescribed by physicians. Measures, fits, adjusts, and repairs appliances, such as corsets, belts, trusses, orthopedic shoes, compression hose or simple braces for cases which require standard custom fitting techniques. Interprets physician prescriptions, measures, fits appliances to clients with a variety of conditions that often require adapting standard techniques. Incumbent will also be responsible for assisting in the fabrication and assembly of components for custom orthotic/prosthetic devices. Administrative Duties: Performs administrative and other duties associated with fitting Prosthetic/Orthotic devices. Documents and records information in computer system through progress notes and the prosthetics computer package as needed, to meet VA, Joint Commission and other accrediting body requirements. Manages scheduling of Veterans in computer. Provides input on products to maintain in inventory. Places orders for inventory or notifies inventory manager when items are needed to be ordered, depending on item and process requirements. This position will not have a credit card. This position requires regular driving from Cincinnati VAMC to outpatient clinics. Therefore, to be eligible, applicants must possess and maintain valid driver's license to complete job requirements. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician (Orthotic and Prosthetic Fitter)/PD08468A Physical Requirements: Duties require extensive periods of standing and walking. Duties require regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, pushing, reaching, carrying supplies and similar activities. Duties require incumbent to be able to lift. Occasionally it may be necessary to lift supplies and objects weighing as much as 35 pounds. Requires use of proper body mechanics. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Health Technician, GS-07 grade level: Specialized Experience. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-6; experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: - Fits clients with devices prescribed by Physicians, under the guidance of the Prosthetist/Orthotist. - Measures, fits, adjusts, and repairs appliances, such as corsets, belts, trusses, orthopedic shoes, compression hose or simple braces for cases which require standard custom fitting techniques. - Interprets Physician prescriptions, measures, fits appliances to clients with a variety of conditions that often require adapting standard techniques. - Possess responsibility for assisting in the fabrication and assembly of components for custom orthotic/prosthetic devices. - Performs administrative and other duties associated with fitting Prosthetic/Orthotic devices. OR, Education. Applicants can use one full year of graduate education to meet the requirements for the GS-7 position in this occupational series as well. Please note: One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. OR, Combination. Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-7 grade level. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-XX. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Education 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. Additional Information The following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/. Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application. VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. (Whole Health- Added in Additional Information Section)