Prosthetic Representative

Veterans Health Administration • Wilmington, NC

2d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Fayetteville, NC, Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS). The PSAS provides support to optimize the health and independence of the Veteran services provided within various settings, including the Veterans Integrated Service (VISNs), Inpatient Clinics, Outpatient Clinics, and domiciliaries throughout the United States.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• 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.
• 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, 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, Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.
• Ability to understand and apply processes, procedures, regulations, and laws as it applies to purchasing and the provision of prosthetic items/services.
• Ability to coordinate multiple requests for durable medical equipment (DME), including repairs, services, and benefits.
• Ability to act as a liaison with and work effectively with health care providers, patients, caregivers and vendors to ensure that the most appropriate device and services are received timely.
• Ability to monitor contractors and vendors for compliance with contract requirements.
• Knowledge of methods to identify trends and causation factors sufficient to analyze prepared data and gather information to inform and advise management.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and monitor actions to ensure timeliness.
• Ability to understand and articulate the benefits program options available. This includes communicating with patients, caregivers, health care providers and vendors.
• Ability to apply and educate others about national, VISN, and facility directives, policies, procedures and regulations.
• Ability to work effectively with a clinical team and provide recommendations for prosthetic devices.
• Ability to work independently to set priorities; delegate tasks; meet multiple deadlines; analyze organizational problems; and develop and implement effective solutions to optimize quality, efficiency, performance, and productivity.
• Ability to work with a team, to provide technical guidance, plan, organize, and coordinate activities to effectively complete job duties of assignment, such as distributing workload; and monitoring the accuracy, status and progress of work.
• Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively, both orally and in writing, to meet program objectives. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels.
• Ability to assist in staff development, outcome management, and strategic planning.
• Ability to act as liaison between staff to resolve informal employee complaints and concerns.
• Knowledge of rehabilitative treatment goals and strategies that are unique to patients in specialized programs and knowledge of those specific program requirements.

Nice To Haves

• One year of purchasing experience.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a Prosthetic Representative completing segments of prosthetic and sensory aids assignments, projects, activities, and long-and-short term program goals.
• Performs technical, administrative, and analytical prosthetic related assignments for the PSAS.
• Serves on local facility committees, workgroups, and teams to address a variety of PSAS's issues, initiatives, and projects.
• Works closely with senior PSAS's staff to draft, develop, and implement new local organizational policies, directives, and procedures that are consistent with national policies, procedures, and programs.
• Maintains awareness of VA's, VHA's, and PSAS's requirements by governing bodies, i.e. The Joint Commission (JC), Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics (ABC).
• Keeps abreast of current issues in the health care industry and technological advancements.
• Completes contracting and procurement assignments to prepare and authorize purchase orders for a wide variety of prosthetic and orthotic devices.
• Works in collaboration with supervisor to oversee the operation of the Prosthetic, Orthotic and Optical Laboratories.
• Ensures requests for items or services are complete and received under established timeframes.
• Confers independently with contractors, vendors, and other health care workers as needed regarding procurement needs.
• Monitors contracts for compliance with PSAS's statement of work; and receives, analyzes, and completes requests for prosthetic equipment and services.
• Keeps the supervisor well informed of procurement or contract issues as they arise.
• Monitors and analyzes PSAS compliance reports, Delayed Order Report, aged credit card transactions, compliance metrics and scorecards.
• Develops tools that monitor VHA's quality assurance program.
• Analyze and interpret data for trends and provide guidance to improve quality assurance, policies and procedures.
• Works in collaboration with supervisor and senior staff to plan, draft, develop, and prepare budget estimates; to develop cost-containment measures for prosthetic equipment and services; to authorize benefit payment and reimbursement.
• Procures materials, supplies, and equipment; familiar with inventory stock and works collaboratively with Supply Chain to provide oversight of prosthetic service inventories; and refers veterans to proper clinical area for evaluation with guidance from supervisor and senior staff.
• Work may include authorizing and preparing purchase orders for a wide variety of prosthetic and orthotic devices, medical supplies and home medical equipment and repairs.
• Identifies and selects codes for the National CMS/ Health Care Procedural Coding System (HCPCS).
• Enters every item purchased through and/or billed to ensure proper reporting.
• Conducts data analysis using the program's statistical data to prepare various VHA and PSAS reports regarding prosthetics and sensory aids.
• Ensures surgical implants are Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved/cleared; collaborates with Supply Chain Management to establish local procedures and to disposition implants appropriately.
• Collaborates with clinical staff when devices and equipment require repair or replacement and takes necessary actions to resolve issues.
• Uses analytical abilities, communication skills, and social awareness to identify, analyze, and resolve routine prosthetic issues or problems to effectively complete assignments.
• Reviews, interprets, and applies laws concerning benefits available to disabled patients.
• Maintains awareness regarding medical and psychological problems related to patients need to use prosthetic devices.
• Authorizes the purchase, fabrication, fitting, or repair of prosthetic and orthotic devices.
• Interacts with Veterans, caregivers, and clinical staff by answering questions related to benefit programs, including questions about the provision of prosthetic items, home care equipment, benefits, or service issues, and discharge planning requirements.
• Informs veterans and family on different appliances and services available.
• Processes and authorizes service and payment of monthly Home 02 program under the guidance of PSAS's senior staff or supervisor.
• Reviews, monitors, analyzes, and evaluates the results of various databases' prosthetics data referring to staff for guidance.
• Performs other assigned duties.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.
• Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level