Orthopedic Technician

Veterans Health Administration•Mather AFB, CA

23h•Onsite

About The Position

The Orthopedic Health Technician (OHT) works in the Orthopedic Outpatient Clinics, which are organizationally responsible to the Orthopedic Division of the Department of Surgery. This journeyman technician provides direct patient care to patients requiring casts, braces, splints, and traction at Sacramento VAMC outpatient, emergency department, operating room, and inpatient locations. The technician also provides staffing support for the Podiatry clinic as workload permits and operates and maintains equipment used to apply and remove casts. The role requires knowledge of infection-control and sterilization practices, reusable medical equipment maintenance, orthopedic casting and bracing methods, and the safe use of related tools and equipment. The technician recognizes and reports obvious abnormalities during procedures, uses proper body mechanics to protect patients and self, and uses Vista, Windows NT, compatible personal computer systems, and the CPRS electronic medical record. This is a full-time, onsite position with a Monday-Friday schedule from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Telework is unavailable and the position is not virtual.

Requirements

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation.
Specialized experience must apply knowledge, methods, and techniques relevant to orthopedic technician work.
Knowledge of OSHA blood-borne pathogen standards and universal precautions.
Knowledge of sterilization procedures and reusable medical equipment maintenance.
Knowledge of casting and bracing methods, materials, and tools.
Knowledge of normal and abnormal results sufficient to recognize and report obvious abnormalities during procedures.
Knowledge of proper body mechanics.
Basic knowledge of Vista, Windows NT, and compatible personal computer systems, and specific knowledge of the CPRS electronic medical record.
U.S. citizenship is required.
Current Federal employees and certain former Federal employees applying for GS-7 must meet the 52-week GS-6 time-in-grade requirement.
Selected applicants are subject to a pre-employment drug test, background/security investigation, and onboarding requirements; required participation in seasonal influenza and COVID-19 vaccination programs applies to VA health care personnel.
Physical ability to hold a patient's extremity steadily for up to one hour; work at a computer terminal; and tolerate prolonged standing and holding surgical instrumentation in operating or treatment rooms.

Responsibilities

Provide direct patient care to patients requiring casts, braces, splints, and traction in outpatient, emergency department, operating room, and inpatient settings.
Provide staffing support for the Podiatry clinic as workload permits.
Operate and maintain equipment used in the application and removal of casts.
Follow OSHA blood-borne pathogen safety standards and universal precautions to protect patients and self from infection.
Clean and sterilize instruments and maintain reusable medical equipment according to manufacturers' instructions.
Apply knowledge of casting and bracing methods, procedures, materials, and tools.
Recognize and report obvious abnormalities during procedures.
Use proper body mechanics to ensure the safety of patients and self.
Use Vista, Windows NT, compatible personal computer systems, and the CPRS electronic medical record.
Hold a patient's extremity steadily for up to one hour and, when working in operating or treatment rooms, stand for prolonged periods and hold surgical instruments.