Orthopedic Technician

Full Job Description

This position of Orthopedic Health Technician is located in the Orthopedic Section of Surgical Service.

Servicing as Orthopedic Health Technician in the Orthopedic Lab, incumbent is in charge of the technical and administrative duties of this position.

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.

~AND~ To qualify for this position at the GS-7 level, you must meet one of the following: Specialized Experience: 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 requires application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled.

You must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Specialized experience is working directly with orthopedic doctors and/or surgeons in the treatment of bone and joint injuries where you were responsible for applying and removing casts, splints and braces, assisting with minor surgical procedures, instructing patients in caring for their injuries, adjusting walking aids; assisting orthopedic surgeons in the operating room; ordering supplies, dressing wounds, removing sutures, K wires, steinmann pins, positioning patients for x-rays.

NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

~OR~ Education: Successful completion of one (1) full academic year of graduate education that is directly related to the work of the position.

~OR~ Combination: A combination of successfully completed graduate-level education (beyond 1⁄2 year) and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total requirements for this grade level.

The education portion must include graduate education directly related to the work of this position. Physical Requirements: Duties require extensive periods of standing and walking.

Works with patients requiring regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching and similar activities. Uses principles of body mechanics and obtains assistance when needed.

Uses protective measures and techniques in managing disturbed behavior.

Duties are performed in a hospital environment including care areas where there is greater potential for the occurrence of disturbed behavior requiring usual safety precautions.

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.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Major Duties:

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Major duties include, but are not limited to: Applies all types of casts on patients, which requires the performance of duties in other occupational areas such as on the wards, in radiology, in the operating room, and in the orthopedic cast room.

Assists as necessary with minor surgical procedures. Performs wound care (i.e. bandaging, application of dressings, and wound measurements).

Gives patients a detailed but limited explanation of the process of the procedure. Prepares the patient for cast procedures by divesting and placing the patient on the fracture table.

Provides patient education within the scope of care or while providing an intervention (i.e. cast care, post injections, and doing braces).

Assists the radiology department in positioning patients for x-rays with or without casts to determine fracture alignment.

Makes certain types of casts needed for specific patients and any special details. Assists with daily clinic flow.

Informs the residents physician regarding any possible unexpected or unplanned problems with a specific type cast, materials, equipment or other matters necessary to cast therapy.

Teaches proper use and safety with durable medical equipment. Performs other duties assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 7:00am-3:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized