The Prosthetic and Sensory Aides Service (PSAS) provides comprehensive support to optimize health and independence of the Veteran services are provided within various settings. The incumbent manages and supervises the full range of all phases of prosthetic operations, including supervising staff. Serves as an expert advisor administering, analyzing, evaluating, planning, developing, and work concerned with prosthetic and sensory aids services to disabled patients.
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. 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. . Experience and Education: Individual must meet at least one of the requirements below. (1) 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 (2) 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. The 24 semester hours could include but is not limited to any combination from the following fields: occupational therapy, physical therapy, kinesiotherapy, social work, psychology, prosthetics, orthotics, respiratory therapy, assistive technology, business law, leadership, healthcare, public administration, or business management. This course work may have been completed within the degree or in addition to the degree; or (3) Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. GS-12 Prosthetic Representative (Service Chief) (a) Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of legal, ethical, and professional standards applicable to providing home medical equipment, rehabilitation services, home oxygen, visual or hearing impairment devices, assistive technology, or orthotics/prosthetics services. 2. Ability to manage, interpret, and present fiscal data (i.e. fund controls, contracts and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs and administer an allocated budget. 3. Ability to manage a health care program that provides home medical equipment, rehabilitation services, home oxygen, visual or hearing impairment devices, assistive technology, orthotics, or prosthetics. 4. Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties, including responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; assessment of competencies; evaluation of performance; selection of staff; and recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions. (c) Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. At this level, the Service Chief has full responsibility for managing and supervising all aspects of prosthetic operations and is the highest level professional position, at the facility, with responsibility for the professional practice of facility prosthetic and sensory aid service staff. Assignments may include managing programs at more than one facility. The Service Chief has full management and supervisory responsibility for program management, education, human resource management and supervision, and organizational stewardship for the prosthetic program. They are responsible for all supervisory functions including recruitment and hiring. He/She approves and disapproves employee leave requests; monitors time and attendance; and ensures that all requests for hiring, promotions, awards and disciplinary actions are justified and carried out according to appropriate VA Human Resources policies and procedures. Typically, there are no subordinate supervisory prosthetic representatives at the facility level. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.
Major duties include, but are not limited to, the following: Serves as a Prosthetic Representative Service Chief completing a variety of supervisory and non-supervisory prosthetic and sensory aids assignments, projects, activities independently to meet PSAS's long and short term program goals. Plans, develops, and directs a PSAS at the national, VISN or local level. Performs technical, administrative, and analytical prosthetic related assignments for the PSAS. Advises the VA Central Office for the development of PSAS policies and manages and provides national-level oversight to a VISN or facility PSAS program to achieve VHA's overall mission goals. Leads projects and project teams on activities related to prosthetic and sensory aid activities. Completes a variety of non-supervisory ad hoc projects and assignments personally as needed. Manages a health care program that provides home medical equipment, rehabilitation services, home oxygen, visual or hearing impairment devices, assistive technology, orthotics, or prosthetics. Manages and supervises the full range and all aspects of prosthetic operations, for program management, education, human resource management and supervision, and organizational stewardship for the prosthetic program. Supervises staff directly where typically, there are no subordinate supervisory prosthetic representatives at the facility level. Supervises the highest level PSAS professional positions at the facility with responsibility for the professional practice of facility prosthetic and sensory aid service staff; where the assignments may include managing programs at more than one facility. Supervises and oversees organizational stewardship for the prosthetic program. Assures compliance with accrediting agency and regulatory requirements. Establishes and monitors performance and quality metrics; reviews and modifies work processes to achieve optimal efficiency and effectiveness; ensures customer satisfaction; takes corrective actions as needed. Oversees and manages various areas including program management, education, and human resource management, including recruitment and hiring. Approves and disapproves employee leave requests; monitors time and attendance; and ensures that all requests for hiring, promotion, awards, and disciplinary actions are justified and carried out according to appropriate VA Human Resources policies and procedures. Keeps abreast of the various legal, ethical, and professional standards applicable to providing home medical equipment, rehabilitation services, home oxygen, visual or hearing impairment devices, assistive technology, or orthotics/prosthetics services. Participates in the department in public relations activities, i.e. lectures, town halls, and in-services. Serves as an advisor to clinicians regarding the selection, prescription, and acquisition of prosthetic devices involving furnishing information concerning such matters as new developments in the field of prosthetics and sources of supply for such devices. Interprets prescriptions of clinicians to make certain that proper prosthetic devices are selected for, or by, the patients. Authorizes the purchase, fabrication, or repair of prosthetic devices. Maintains continuous liaison with manufacturers and dealers of prosthetic supplies, inspecting their facilities and services and participating in the award of prosthetic appliance contracts Analyzes data and make recommendations to optimize quality, efficiency, performance, and productivity within the service Develops and maintains a system of internal reviews that ensure service programs operate in compliance with regulatory and accrediting organizations. Gives technical and administrative advice and assistance on prosthetic problems to other facilities Contributes to the effective utilization of resources, budgetary allocation, and fiscal management. Manages, interprets, and presents fiscal data (i.e. fund controls, contracts, and equipment expenditures), forecasts resource and equipment needs; administers an allocated budget. Develops cost-containment measures for prosthetic equipment and services to authorize benefit payment and reimbursement. Authorizes the purchase, fabrication, fitting, or repair of prosthetic devices. Serves as a VHA and PSAS representative on local facility committees, workgroups, and teams to address a variety of PSAS's issues, initiatives, and projects. Keeps the PSAS senior staff aware of outcomes and recommendations to enhance the programs. Maintains awareness of VA's, VHA's, and PSAS's requirements regarding the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations' (JCAHO) standards of care implementation. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc only, per Supervisor's discretion Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized