Prosthetic Research Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Summary
This position functions primarily in the Orthotic-Prosthetic Laboratory Section of the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service. The Orthotist, Prosthetist or Orthotist/Prosthetist, provides appropriate orthotic and/or prosthetic devices and treatment.
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Duties
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The Orthotist, Prosthetist or Orthotist/Prosthetist, provide appropriate orthotic and/or prosthetic devices and treatment.

• An examination of the patient and assessment of their individual needs and desires.
• Compliance with the treatment plan.
• Design, component selection, measurement/casting of the patient, fabrication and fitting of the device to the patient.
• Proper documentation of the patient record.
• Continuing care and periodic examination of the patient and the orthotic/prosthetic device to assess fit, function and changing needs of the patient.
• Communicates with patient and/or caregiver about the recommended treatment plan, to involve them in orthotic or prosthetic care; include disclosure of potential risks/benefits.
• Verify patient care by documenting history, ongoing care and follow-up, using established record-keeping techniques.
• Refer patient, if appropriate, to higher level Orthotist and/or Prosthetist for intervention beyond orthotic/prosthetic scope of practice or privileging.
• Consults with higher-level Orthotist and/or Prosthetist to clarify or with physician/referral source to modify, if necessary, the original prescription and/or treatment plan.
• Identify material, design and components to support anticipated outcome.
• Inform patient, family and/or caregiver of the orthotic/prosthetic procedure, possible risks and time involved in the procedure.
• Select appropriate material/techniques to implement treatment plan.
• Provide patient with preparatory care for orthotic/prosthetic treatment.
• Prepare patient for procedure required to initiate treatment plan.
• Consult technical component/material resources as required.
• Prepare delineation/impression/template for modification/fabrication.
• Fabricate/assemble prescribed device by assembling selected materials/components to prepare for fitting and/or delivery.
• Assess device for structural safety and ensure that manufacturers' guidelines have been followed prior to patient fitting/delivery.
• Assess/align orthosis/prosthesis for accuracy in sagittal, transverse and coronal planes to provide maximum function/comfort.
• Provide gait training /functional-use training.
• Ensure that materials, design and components are fit/delivered as prescribed.
• Complete fabrication process after achieving optimal fit of orthosis/prosthesis.
• Educate/counsel patient and/or caregiver about the use and maintenance of the orthosis/prosthesis.
• Reassess orthosis/prosthesis for structural safety prior to patient delivery.
• Document treatment using established record-keeping techniques to verify implementation of treatment plan.
• Solicit subjective feedback from patient and/or caregiver to determine status.
• Assess patient's functional level.
• Assess patient's skin condition.
• Assess patient's general health, height and weight, and note any changes.
• Assess patient's psychosocial status, and note any changes.
• Assess fit of orthosis/prosthesis with regard to strategic contact to determine need for changes relative to initial treatment goals.
• Assess fit of orthosis/prosthesis with regard to anatomical relationships to orthosis/prosthesis to determine need for changes relative to initial treatment goals.
• Formulate plan to modify orthosis/prosthesis based on findings; inform patient and/or caregiver of plan to modify orthosis/prosthesis.
• Make specified modifications to orthosis/prosthesis.
• Assess modified device for structural safety, and ensure that manufacturers' guidelines have been followed.
• Evaluate modifications to orthosis/prosthesis, including static and dynamic assessment to confirm that goals and objectives of modifications have been met.
• Reassess patient knowledge and understanding of goals and objectives to ensure proper use of orthosis/prosthesis relative to modifications.
• Document all findings and actions and communicate with appropriate health care professionals.
• Adheres to established policies and procedures in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations as well as professional and ethical guidelines (e.g., FDA, ADA, OSHA, MSDS, ABC and BOC.)
• Communicates roles and expectations of employer and employees by providing documentation to create a professional, cooperative working environment and improve patient care.
• Participates in continuing education and/or provide such education for other health care professionals, orthotic and prosthetic practitioners.
• Participates in education for residents, students and trainees.
• Participates in product development research, clinical trials and outcome evaluation studies.
• Participates in/with consumer organizations and nongovernmental organizations to promote competency and enhancement of orthotic/prosthetic profession.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

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.
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.

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.
English Language Proficiency. Orthotists, prosthetists, or orthotist/prosthetists must be proficient in spoken and written as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d). 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).
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/prosthetists 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:

• Orthotists, prosthetists, or orthotist/prosthetists that do not meet the basic requirements for education and certification may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• 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 initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or certification that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
• If an employee who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, you must also meet the grade level requirements.
Orthotist/Prosthetist is an allied health professional specifically trained to provide or manage the provision of custom designed, fabricated, modified and fitted orthoses and prostheses based upon the independent or consultative clinical assessment of the patient's unique needs and desires, as well as their expectations and pursuant to a physician's prescription.
GS-11 Orthotist/Prosthetist (Full Performance Level):

• Experience. Completion of 1 year of experience as an orthotist/prosthetist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) that demonstrates possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to provide orthotic/prosthetic services in a hospital setting.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  
  • Ability to attend 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.
  • Ability to conduct 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.
  • Ability to recognize physical abnormalities, deviations, and complicating conditions with potentially life threatening implications.

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 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS 11.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Additional information
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, vi