Health Technician (Orthotic Fitter)

Summary

This position is located at Seattle VA Medical Center in Seattle, Washington at one of the eight VISN 20 facilities supervised by the VISN 20 Prosthetics Clinical Manager.

This is an open-continuous announcement. Positions will be filled as they become available. The first cut-off date to consider applications for referral to the selecting official will be December 18, 2025, the remaining cut-off dates will be at 2-week intervals.

Duties

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Orthotics and therapeutic shoe fitters (Fitters) work in the Orthotics and Prosthetics laboratory of the Prosthetics and Sensory Aides service at any one of the VAMC in VISN 20. Fitters work under the general direction of the Certified Orthotist or Certified Orthotist Prosthetist at their facility. The main purpose of these Fitters is to fit and apply orthotic devices and depth inlay shoes. Instruct patients in wear and maintenance of orthotic devices to achieve the desired benefit and to maximize the function and lifetime of the device. The incumbent greets, measures, fits, dispenses and instructs walk-in patients on a variety of non- custom orthotic appliances. The devices provided include but are not limited to: braces for upper and lower extremities, spinal orthoses, soft goods, diabetic shoes, over the counter (OTC) ankle/ knee immobilizers, supports, and corsets. He/ she will also measure and fit non-custom and custom hosiery.

• Prepare casting for shoes and custom shoe inserts using foam impression techniques for eventual fabrication by Certified Orthotist or Certified Orthotist Prosthetists.
• Perform simple orthotic repairs, such as repairs to cuffs, suspension straps, shoes, using a wide variety of materials including leather, metal, plastic and fabric components of various braces.
• Annotates patient medical records to computerized patient records system (CPRS) with regards to services and/or treatments provided to comply with Quality Improvement and Joint Commission Standards.
• Accurately inputs data into an electronic database system (VISTA/ Prosthetic package) for accurate reporting of NPPD (National Prosthetic Patient Data) or APAT records on all work performed which includes material cost or labor.
• Stock post items delivered to patients from inventory at the time of delivery. Appraise the Orthotics Prosthetics Laboratory supervisor or Clinical Manager of any technical, inventory, or documentation issues which may have a significant impact.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm (PST).

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician (Orthotic Fitter)/PD10294A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.

Physical Requirements: Most of the time is spent standing, squatting or kneeling while examining patients, and walking long distances to various locations within the medical center. Manual dexterity in procedures of measuring and fitting is required. There are times when the incumbent is required to lift and carry objects between 10-40 pounds and occasionally need to lift more than 40 pounds.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation.
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required.
• May serve a probationary period.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc.
• 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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 probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position.

In addition to the selective placement requirement, applicants must also meet the below specialize experience.

GS-6 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-5 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: At least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05) in the Federal service that has required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of this position. 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. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include:

• Assisting with fitting and applying orthotic devices and non-custom and custom hosiery;
• Assisting by utilizing strong-communication skills to effectively communicate with all levels of staff as well as patients and their families to discuss all aspects of orthotic fit and restoration;
• Helping to provide patient care/support services to an adult population;
• Assisting by utilizing a patient medical record system and electronic database system for tracking Prosthetic devices with regards to services and/or treatments;
• Assisting by protecting medical record data from unauthorized release, loss, alteration, or deletion.
• Instructs patients in wear and maintenance of orthotic devices to achieve the desired benefit and to maximize the function and lifetime of the device; and
• Perform simple orthotic repairs, such as repairs to cuffs, suspension straps, shoes, using a wide variety of materials including leather, metal, plastic and fabric components of various braces.

Preferred Experience: Certified as an Orthotic Fitter, Therapeutic Shoe Fitter, Athletic Trainer or Pedorthist.

NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week.

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.

Education

There is no educational substitution for the GS-06 level.

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.

The following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.



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