Prosthetic Representative (Service Chief)

The duties of the VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System Supervisory Chief of Prosthetics are to administer, supervise, or perform work concerned with rendering Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Services (PSAS) to disabled patients. The Supervisory Chief of Prosthetics is responsible with providing services for Veterans in the assigned catchment area.

This Position functions as the Chief, Supervisory Prosthetic Representative in the Prosthetics & Sensory Aids Service. The incumbent performs work in direct support of clinical areas such as Primary Care, podiatry, PM&R, Surgical Services, Community Based Outpatient Clinics, hospital wards, nursing homes (VA , state and community) etc. The incumbent provides direct support in the provision of services, products, supplies, and/or equipment requiring a practical knowledge of applicable operations, products, procedures, programs, policies and regulations. The primary focus of this leadership role is to monitor and manage even distribution of the workload among the prosthetic staff, and to assist with the provision of training for this staff. This work requires the application and interpretation of laws concerning benefits available to disabled patients and of the regulations, procedures and practices based thereon and, in addition, a specialized knowledge of the medical and psychological problems directly related to the use of prosthetic devices; and a specialized knowledge and understanding of the fabrication and satisfactory fitting of prosthetic devices. The administrative aspects of the work require an understanding of statistics, budgeting, contracting, procurement, human resources, the National Prosthetic Patient Database, inventory management and a knowledge of the Prosthetic national software package. A Prosthetic Representative must have analytical ability, social awareness, tact and diplomacy, and good communication skills. S/he must possess knowledge of established management principles, concepts and methodology to identify, analyze and resolve managerial and administrative issues or problems of a procedural or factual nature. The Representative must be able to anticipate the need for action. S/he must also possess the ability to deal effectively with individuals and groups and to adjust to difficult or stressful situations. Listed below are the tasks for the Supervisory Prosthetic Representative, GS-13 Development of local organizational policies and procedures consistent with national policies and procedures Authorize/Approve purchase orders Acts as an intermediary between the Prosthetics Purchasing Agents and the local clinicians and vendors to procure the appropriate supplies, equipment or device for the Veteran Development of Statements of Work (SOW) for service contracts Monitor contracts for compliance to statement of work Planning, development and preparation of annual budget estimates Analyzing costs to develop cost containment initiative Receive, analyze and process requests for prosthetic equipment and services Identify and select national CMS/ Health Care Procedural Coding System (HCPCS) codes are entered for every item purchased through and/or billed to ensure proper reporting. Establishing long and short term program goals Responds to a variety of correspondence i.e. Veterans, Congressmen, contractors, Home Oxygen program Chairperson in local facility committees, workgroups, teams Assess and provide technical guidance concerning equipment and benefits to beneficiaries and other health care workers Adjusts work load; recommends new performance measures; measures effectiveness against existing performance measures, review of workload and study workload/forecasting for future program growth. Implementation of new National and Local guidelines/policies/directives Developing tools that allow monitoring of a quality assurance program Analyze, review and evaluate the results of various monitors and databases Confers with contractors and other health care workers Inform Veterans and family on different appliances and services available Analyze costs to develop cost containment initiatives Coordinates specialty programs which include Clothing Allowance, Home O2, AAE, and HISA, Wheelchair, Amputee, Major Medical Committee (MMEC), Prevent Amputation for Veterans Everywhere (PAVE), etc., by scheduling Veterans and providing necessary documentation as applicable Direct supervision of PSAS staff. Ensures adherence to personnel management rules, regulations, and procedures and develops functional statements, performance standards and competencies for staff Evaluate and assess performance of supervised staff. Determine eligibility Review medical and administrative files of Veterans Interview Veterans and inspect prosthetic equipment /appliances Authorize benefit payment and reimbursement Conduct home and vendor visits Inspect and recommend approval of contractor prosthetic shops Duties are continued in the Education Section. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: Ad-Hoc Telework is available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure: Required

You 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. 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. 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 trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.