This position is located within the VA Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center's Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service of the Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. The incumbent will perform the repair, fabrication, fitting and dispensing of orthotic appliances. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. GS-05 grade level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service 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, but is not limited to: the ability to read and understand prescriptions and orthotic procedures to undertake the fitting of orthotic appliances; application of knowledge about the mechanical function of prosthetic and sensory aids appliances; utilization of a drill press, grinder, sander, and rivet installation; and application of knowledge of a wide variety of standard and custom medical equipment, prosthetic, and orthotic appliances. OR Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-05 level. Completion of four (4) years of education above the high school level obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university, leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation is considered qualifying education. OR Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-05 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-05. 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. GS-06 grade level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service 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, but is not limited to: the ability to read and understand prescriptions and orthotic procedures to undertake the fitting of orthotic appliances; application of knowledge about the mechanical function of prosthetic and sensory aids appliances; utilization of a drill press, grinder, sander, and rivet installation; and application of knowledge of a wide variety of standard and custom medical equipment, prosthetic, and orthotic appliances. OR Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-06 level. Completion of six months of graduate level education that is directly related to the work of the position to be filled. (Note: To be creditable, this education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. One year of full-time graduate education is 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 Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-06 level. (Note: To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then, divide your semester hours of graduate education by 9. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.) GS-07 grade level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service 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, but is not limited to: the ability to read and understand prescriptions and orthotic procedures to undertake the fitting of orthotic appliances; application of knowledge about the mechanical function of prosthetic and sensory aids appliances; utilization of a drill press, grinder, sander, and rivet installation; and application of knowledge of a wide variety of standard and custom medical equipment, prosthetic, and orthotic appliances. OR Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-07 level. Completion of 1 year of graduate level education that is directly related to the work of the position to be filled. (Note: To be creditable, this education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. 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 Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-07 level. (Note: To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then, divide your semester hours of graduate education by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.) 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. ["Assignments are proportionally of a broader scope and are performed with more independence at the Target Level GS-7. Duties at the GS-5/6/7 include, but are not limited to: Receive consults (prescriptions) for prosthetic devices ensuring the legal requirements governing eligibility and entitlement to prosthetic devices are met. Assist in the repair, fabrication, fitting, and dispensing of orthotic appliances. Conduct routine physical inventory counts, update inventory, and keep excess inventory to a minimum Unpack shipments, check packing slips against orders and contents of the shipment, and assemble necessary documentation for orthotic and prosthetic items needing to be reordered. Respond to telephonic inquiries directly or provide callers with the appropriate alternative resource. Handle minor orthotic/prosthetic repairs using a wide variety of materials. Complete prosthetic device orders by accurately creating a progress note in the computerized patient record system. Take body and limb segment measurements appropriate to the item being fit to assist in the application of prefabricated appliances. Electronically document information such as service rendered, diagnosis, and CPT code in the patient's record. Complete prosthetic device orders by accurately creating a progress note in the computerized patient record system. Support and report to clinics outside Sepulveda that are within the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. These include, but are not limited to, clinics in Ventura and Bakersfield. Ability to obtain authorization to operate a government vehicle. NOTE: Required to report to the Ventura VA Clinic twice a month. Must be able to maintain VHA government vehicle driving authorization. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician/PD02200A, PD02201A, and PD02202A Physical Requirements: The work required some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals and record boxes. 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."]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
