Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current, permanent employees of Orlando VA Healthcare System and its Community Based Clinics. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

VA Careers - Prosthetics: https://youtube.com/embed/3NUvF5jjErQ

The Prosthetic Representative administers, supervises, or performs work concerned with rendering prosthetic and sensory aids services to disabled patients. Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Develops local organizational policies and procedures consistent with national policies and procedures.
• Authorizes and prepare purchase orders.
• Develops Statement of Work for service contracts.
• Monitors contracts for compliance to statement of work.
• Receives, analyzes and processes requests for prosthetic equipment and services.
• Identifies and selects national CMS/ Health Care Procedural Coding System (HCPCS) codes are entered for every item purchased through and/or billed to ensure proper reporting.
• Establishes long- and short-term program goals.
• Responds to a variety of correspondence i.e. contractors, Home O2 program issues.
• Responds to a variety of correspondence i.e. congressionals.
• Participates in local facility committees, workgroups, and teams.
• Assesses and provides technical guidance concerning equipment and benefits to beneficiaries and other health care workers.
• Adjusts workload and develops performance measures.
• Implements new local and national guidelines.
• Develops tools that allow monitoring of a quality assurance program.
• Analyzes, reviews and evaluates the results of various monitors and databases.
• Confers with contractors and other health care workers.
• Informs veterans and family on different appliances and services available.
• Plans, develops and prepares budget estimates.
• Develops cost containment measures.
• Coordinates specialty programs which include clothing allowance, Home O2, AAE, HISA.
• Reviews medical and administrative files of veterans.
• Interviews veterans and inspect prosthetic equipment /appliances.
• Authorizes benefit payment and reimbursement.
• Conducts home and vendor visits.
• Inspects and recommends approval of contractor prosthetic shops.
• Issues inventory and refers the veteran to proper clinical area for evaluation.
• Represents the department in public relations activities i.e. lectures, town halls, and in services.
• Administers personnel management rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Coordinate specialty clinics which include wheelchair, amputee, MMEC, PACT, etc.

Work Schedule: : Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: Prosthetic Representative #82391F, #82117F, #82118F, #82119F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

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.
• 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).
• 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.

Physical Requirements: Pre-placement and periodic physical examinations are required for hybrid occupations to ensure workers are placed in positions where they can perform the essential functions of their job including their physical, mental and emotional capacities, without endangering their health or the health of their co-workers. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Qualifications

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.

Experience and Education Individual must meet at least one of the requirements below.

• Experience. One year of creditable experience that demonstrates: Knowledge of basic anatomy and medical terminology; knowledge of accounting methods; ability to research, analyze, comprehend, and apply decisions; basic knowledge of inventory management procedures; ability to use computer software packages for word processing, spreadsheet development, and database management; and ability to work independently and as a member of a team. OR
• Education. A bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution AND at least 24 semester hours in course work related to health care, public administration, or business. OR
• Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. NOTE: Please see Education Requirements below.
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English.
• Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a Prosthetic Representative on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply.

Grade Determinations:GS-5 Prosthetic Representative(Entry Level)

• Experience. None beyond the basic requirement.
• Assignment. Receives training and instruction to develop proficiency in essential occupational tasks. The work is performed under close supervision.

GS-7 Prosthetic Representative(Developmental Level)

• Experience In addition to the basic requirements, one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level, directly related to the position to be filled.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities(KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • Ability to understand and apply processes, procedures, regulations, and laws as it applies to purchasing and the provision of prosthetic items/services.
  • Ability to coordinate multiple requests for durable medical equipment (DME), including repairs, services, and benefits.
  • Ability to act as a liaison with and work effectively with health care providers, patients, caregivers and vendors to ensure that the most appropriate device and services are received timely.
  • Ability to monitor contractors and vendors for compliance with contract requirements.
• Assignment. The employee ensures requests for items or services are complete and received in accordance with established timeframes. Work may include authorizing and preparing purchase orders for a wide variety of prosthetic and orthotic devices, medical supplies and home medical equipment and repairs.

GS-9 Prosthetic Representative(Developmental level)

• Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level, that is directly related to the position to be filled. OR
• Education. Education equivalent to two full years of progressively higher level graduate education or Master's or equivalent graduate degree from an accredited educational institution AND at least 24 semester hours in course work related to health care, public administration, or business. NOTE: Please see Education Requirements below. AND
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of methods to identify trends and causation factors sufficient to analyze prepared data and gather information to inform and advise management.
  • Ability to organize, prioritize, and monitor actions to ensure timeliness.
  • Ability to understand and articulate the benefits program options available. This includes communicating with patients, caregivers, health care providers and vendors.
  • Ability to apply and educate others about national, VISN, and facility directives, policies, procedures and regulations.
  • Ability to work effectively with a clinical team and provide recommendations for prosthetic devices.
• Assignment. The employee ensures devices, equipment, and services, are based on the patient's rehabilitative and medical needs. They work closely with the treatment team in development of prescriptions and provide technical assistance and guidance to assist in planning and coordination to obtain equipment, services, and benefits. Conducts home visits, in collaboration with other healthcare providers to determine if requested equipment is appropriate or can be installed in the home.

GS-11 Prosthetic Representative(Full Performance Level)

• Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level, that is directly related to the position to be filled.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • Ability to work independently to set priorities; delegate tasks; meet multiple deadlines; analyze organizational problems; and develop and implement effective solutions to optimize quality, efficiency, performance, and productivity.
  • Ability to work with a team, to provide technical guidance, plan, organize, and coordinate activities to effectively complete job duties of assignment, such as distributing workload; and monitoring the accuracy, status and progress of work.
  • Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively, both orally and in writing, to meet program objectives. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels.
  • Ability to assist in staff development, outcome management, and strategic planning.
  • Ability to act as liaison between staff to resolve informal employee complaints and concerns.
  • Knowledge of rehabilitative treatment goals and strategies that are unique to patients in specialized programs and knowledge of those specific program requirements.
• Assignment. They are responsible for the administration of benefit programs, such as home and structural alterations, automobile adaptive equipment, and clothing allowance. Is aware of rehabilitative treatment goals and strategies that are unique to patients in order to obtain specialized service programs. When non-contract products are required, assists the clinical team in developing appropriate justifications, to ensure access to the most clinically appropriate products and services when such as product functionality not available with contract products.

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 in the range of GS-05 to GS-11.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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 Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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