Summary The work of the Health Technician (Pedorthist) is performed at the Hampton VAHCS/ Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service located at the North Battlefield Clinic and represents independent assessment of patients with all levels of disease and disability, formulation of a treatment plan, implementation of the treatment plan, follow up of the treatment to validate outcomes and refine the treatment plan to improve patient compliance and satisfaction. Responsibilities 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. Assesses 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. 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 #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. 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. 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. Credential. (1) Candidates must be board certified in pedorthics by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics (ABC). or (2) Credentialed in pedorthics by the Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC). or (3) Exception for Non-Credentialed Health Aid (Pedorthist). (a) Non-credentialed individuals who have successfully completed a Board for Certification in Pedorthics (BCP), Commission on Accreditation of Pedorthic Education (CAPE), National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE), Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or American Board for Certification of Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics (ABC) approved pedorthic certificate program (see Pedorthist Programs) and otherwise meet ABC's eligibility requirements for certification (see Pedorthist Candidate Guide) may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate Health Aid (Pedorthist) under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). (b) Non-credentialed individuals shall only provide care under the clinical oversight of a credentialed pedorthist, orthotist, or orthotist/prosthetist at or above the full performance level. (c) Non-credentialed individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained. (d) Temporary appointments of non-credentialed Health Aid (Pedorthist) may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment. Grade Determinations: Health Technician (Pedorthist), GS-05 (1) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade. (2) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:(a) Skill in conducting patient assessments.(b) Skill in developing simple pedorthic devices (includes assessment, measurement, selection, and fitting).(c) Ability to consult with providers and allied health colleagues regarding treatment.(d) Ability to assess device to ensure structural soundness and compliance with prescription and fit. (3) Assignment. Employees at this grade level serve in a Health Technician (Pedorthist) developmental position. Assignments at this grade level represent a developmental level where the individual continues developing the broader knowledge, skills, and abilities to prepare for the next developmental level. Clinical oversight is more general in nature for assignments for which the individual has demonstrated competency. Health Technician (Pedorthist) consults with supervisor or the individual providing clinical oversight for guidance not covered by instructions. Health Technician (Pedorthist) consults with the physician, therapist, and/or senior pedorthist/orthotist/prosthetist staff members to obtain and understand the prescription. They conduct patient assessments, take scans, and measurements for simple devices, prepare, and modify casts for simple devices. With minimal clinical oversight and direction of a credentialed pedorthist, orthotist, or CPO, the Health Technician (Pedorthist) provides patient services with simple devices, patient/caregiver education, and assistance with complex device @types. Health Technician (Pedorthist), GS-06 (1) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade. (2) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:(a) Skill in developing a follow up treatment plan for complex pedorthic device @types.(b) Ability to process paperwork for pedorthic devices being produced and fitted by vendor. (c) Ability to place administrative orders with procurement staff for treatment modalities.(d) Ability to assess device @types for structural soundness and meeting the specifications of the prescription.(e) Ability to process consults/orders. (3) Assignment. Employees at this grade level serve in a Health Technician (Pedorthist) developmental position. Assignments at this grade level represent a developmental level where the individual continues developing broader knowledge, skills, and abilities to prepare for the full performance level. Clinical oversight is more general in nature for assignments, for which the individual has demonstrated competency. Health Technician (Pedorthist) at this level possess a broad working knowledge of simple and complex device @types. Health Technician (Pedorthist) independently takes scans and measurements; prepares and modifies casts and repairs and fabricates complex devices in accordance with the input of the individual providing clinical oversight. With minimal clinical oversight and direction of a credentialed pedorthist, orthotist, or CPO, they provide complex devices and deliver patient/caregiver education for them. They assess simple and complex devices for quality including structural soundness, compliance with the prescription, fit, and patient comfort. Health Technician (Pedorthist) assists with advanced device @types to include quality assurance assessment. Health Technician (Pedorthist) assists with development of a follow up treatment plan for atypical conditions. Health Technician (Pedorthist), GS-07 (1) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade. (2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:(a) Skill in designing advanced pedorthic devices.(b) Skill in assessing device @types for structural soundness and meeting the specifications of the prescription.(c) Skill in written communication. (d) Skill in oral communication.(e) Skill in fabrication of all pedorthic device @types.(f) Skill in designing innovative pedorthic devices to include new and emerging technology. (3) Assignment. Employees at this grade level serve as a full performance level Health Technician (Pedorthist). The work represents independent assessment of patients with all levels of disease and disability, formulation of a treatment plan, implementation of the treatment plan, follow up of the treatment to validate outcomes and refine the treatment plan to improve patient compliance and satisfaction. Health Technician (Pedorthist) 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. Health Technician (Pedorthist) provides complex patient analyses in accordance with established procedures for patients with unusual conditions, multiple complex conditions and interrelated conditions. They assess patients for indications/contra-indications. Health Technician (Pedorthist) discuss 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. They analyze 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. Health Technician (Pedorthist) 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. 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 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. 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, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
