Health Technician; Orthotic Fitter

Health Technician (Orthotic Fitter)

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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.

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 specialized 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 - Ameri Corps) 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.

• 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…