Health Technician (Orthotic Fitter)

Summary

This position is organizationally aligned under Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service - at the Ann Arbor VAMC (506) - Ann Arbor - MI - a Level 1b Complexity VHA Facility. The incumbent works under the Assistant Chief O&P Clinical Services. The primary purpose of the position is to perform technical work in the Orthotic Prosthetic Clinical Service - and assist in the design - fabrication - repair - modification and fitting the many varieties of orthotic devices prescribed by a physician.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 04/16/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. The grade may have been in any occupation - but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year - it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade - as required by the announcement. In this instance - you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: Specialized 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 that includes the following: communication and interpersonal relations - including the ability to appropriately and courteously relate to internal and external customers; maintain confidential of patient/employee information - electronic and print; experience using Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) or it equivalent; knowledge of all safety issues required in machine operation of all potential health hazards involving the use of plastics and chemicals in the fabrication of orthotic fabrications; knowledge and use of all materials and methods of contemporary prosthetic/orthotic practice; experience taking measurements using the appropriate equipment that is usually found in a orthotic and prosthetic clinic; experience reading and understanding prescriptions and applying a thorough grasp of methods - techniques and the sequence followed in the development of orthotic appliances; knowledge of clinical and/or hospital routine - medical terminology - anatomy and physiology. OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one full year of graduate education to meet the requirements for the GS-7 position in this occupational series as well. Please note: 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. (Transcripts Required to be submitted with your application if you are using your education to qualify.) OR - Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond (please see above). Physical Requirements: The position demands a moderate degree of exertion and a high degree of dexterity. The work requires some physical exertion - some bending - stooping - and crouching to work on devices and fit them to the patient. Work involves some lifting and moving of moderately heavy supplies and equipment such as wheelchairs and durable medical equipment - up to 40 pounds. Work as a Clerk is sedentary. There exists prolonged periods of working at a computer terminal. The Veteran patient is examined in a fitting room where he/she is measured and fitted with a prosthesis/orthosis. Toxic and caustic fumes and materials are handled in orthotic lab. Certain administrative duties and contributions will be conducted in the conference room setting. For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at

Duties

• Major duties and responsibilities: This position provides clinical - administrative - technical - and direct patient care support
• In this capacity - the incumbent must be skillful and flexible in establishing goals and setting priorities due to the fluctuating needs of the clinical staff - based on the following areas: Under the guidance of the Orthotist and/or Prosthetist the incumbent will perform all duties involved with orthotics and prosthetic skills in the repairing - fabrication - fitting - and modification of orthotic and prosthetic devices for the treatment of patients
• Under the direction of the Orthotist and/or Prosthetist will assist the professional staff in the treatment and care of seriously disabled veterans to include amputees - diabetics - upper motor neuro injury - spinal cord injury and those with related disabilities requiring the use of orthotic - prosthetic and footwear devices to take the place of - or assist - a part of or function of the body which is lost or impaired
• Will perform under the direction of the Orthotist and/or Prosthetist repairing - modifying - measuring - and fitting off the shelf and custom fit devices - such as lumbosacral orthoses - cervical collars - compression hose - knee orthoses - wrist hand orthoses - abdominal binders - orthopedic shoes etc
• Will assist the orthotic lab in fabricating orthotic components together
• Will be responsible for performing a broad range of work - which involves the choice of materials - fabrication and fitting under the supervision of the Orthotist and/or Prosthetist
• Each device is constructed and fitted to meet the most rigid prescription requirement
• Will maintain stock of material or supplies for fabrication and off the shelf prosthetic and orthotic devices utilizing the prosthetics inventory package (PIP)
• Will be responsible for maintaining their Orthotic Lab work orders in the Prosthetics package in the DHCP/VISTA
• These work orders explain what needs to be done for the patient
• The work orders need to be closed correctly to reflect time spent and materials used
• This becomes a permanent part of the patients' Prosthetic record
• This also affects the quarterly obligations report for headquarters
• Will be responsible for maintaining electronic progress notes on patients that he/she has treated with support from the Orthotist and/or Prosthetist
• Will communicate and instruct patients in proper procedures for wearing and maintaining orthotic/prosthetic devices in order to achieve the maximum benefit
• He/she will document any communication and instructions given to the patient using the electronic consult and progress note (CPRS package) utilized by this Hospital
• The incumbent will follow up to ensure the appliance fits and functions properly
• Will be responsible for all clean up assignments
• This includes keeping the following organized - clean - and neat: workbench - general work - and storage area
• Complies with all safety/fire prevention rules/regulations - using protective equipment when required and provided
• Promptly reports all accidents and notifies supervisor of unsafe/unhealthful conditions in the workplace
• Attends scheduled training sessions and participates in facility or service level safety promotions as directed by supervisor
• Knows fire drill and emergency plans for work area - including location of all emergency fire equipment - and performs other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00a.m-4:30p.m
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Orthotic Fitter)/PD94274-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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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.

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