The incumbent works within the Prosthetic and Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. This position is organizationally referred to as an "Orthotic Fitter" or "Prosthetics/Orthotic Technician" and serves as a subject matter expert to fit various orthotic soft-good devices, off-the-shelf braces, arch supports, and therapeutic/custom footwear, fabricating prosthetic/orthotic devices, and will be responsible for overall services of the fitting room area. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Individual Occupational Requirement: Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirement, you must meet the following to qualify at the GS-06 level: Specialized Experience GS-06 - One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service); 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: Experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties as a Health Technician (Orthotic/Prosthetic Care), such as providing direct patient care by rendering fitting of prefabricated orthotic and prosthetic devices; completion of appropriate forms and referral, data collection, and determine legal eligibility and medical entitlement. This experience must be supported by your resume to be creditable. OR, Substitute education for experience - To qualify, applicant must have successfully completed a half year (9 credits) of graduate education or completed an internship directly related to the position. If education is used to meet specialized experience requirements, then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position. (Transcripts required) OR, Combination of experience and education - Equivalent combination of education (beyond the undergraduate education, if related) and specialized experience as described above. This education and experience must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the work of the position. (Transcripts required) In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirement, you must meet the following to qualify at the GS-07 level: Specialized experience - One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-6 grade level in the federal service); 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: Experience as a Orthotic Fitter, the skillset required to function successfully is extremely unique and complex; experience in fitting orthotic softgoods; ability to identify human anatomy and landmarks; communicate the basic biomechanics of different devices and how they are applicable to conditions being treated; select the appropriate softgood products based on materials, designs, and medical conditions; Don/doff various softgood products and make basic adjustments; and analyze basic gait deviation. OR experience as a Fabricator; apply knowledge and clinical application of the following to fabricate, adjust, and repair artificial limbs and orthopedic braces; knowledge of human anatomy and landmarks; knowledge of biomechanics of different prosthetic & orthotic components and how to install the components; knowledge of material science and selection; experience with Prosthetic/Orthotic designs, product selection, product platforming; using CAD/CAM fabrication,3-D printing fabrication techniques; performing gait analysis. OR, Substitute education for experience - To qualify, applicant must have successfully completed one full year of graduate education or completed an internship directly related to the position. If education is used to meet specialized experience requirements, then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position. (Transcripts required) OR, Combination of experience and education: Equivalent combination of education (beyond the first 9 graduate level credits, if related) and specialized experience as described above. This education and experience must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the work of the position. (Transcripts required) 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. ["The duties of the position include but not limited to: The incumbent functions independently to provide direct patient care. The work entails performing thorough chart reviews, assessing/investigating the medical conditions, interviewing the patients, formulating treatment plans, measuring/casting the patients conveying the treatment plans, fabricating/ordering the appropriate device, fitting/delivering the devices, educating the patients and caretakers, assessing the outcomes, and providing follow-up care. Identify human anatomy and landmarks. Communicate the basic biomechanics of different devices and how they are applicable to conditions being treated. Select the appropriate soft good products based on materials, designs, and medical conditions. Analyze basic gait deviation. Prosthetic/Orthotic designs; CAD/CAM fabrication and 3D printing fabrication techniques. The incumbent is required to have an American Board Certification (ABC) or Board Orthotic Certification (BOC) and have the training, the knowledge, and must function in full performance standards per ABC/BOC. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday. 8:00am to 4:30pm. Subject to change depending on the needs of the agency. Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician - Orthotic Fitter/PD03791A, PD03790A, and PD03790A 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 50 pounds. Requires use of proper body mechanics. Incumbent must be able to work in stressful situations. The Lab is busy with patients, phones ringing and sometime irate patients. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2023. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be November 30, 2022 with subsequent a cut-off dates on December 30, 202, January 30, 2023, February 30, 2023, March 30, 2023, April 30, 2023 , May 30, 2023, June 30, 2023, July 30, 2023, August 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled."]

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