Medical Supply Technician ( Sterile Processing)

Summary

This position is located in the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) section under the Associate Director of Patient Care Services of the Hudson Valley VA Medical Center.

Major Duties

• Responsible for carrying out compliance with manufacturer recommendations for cleaning, preparation, sterilization and storage of RME.
• Receives, disassembles, and inspects reusable medical supplies and equipment for damage.
• Assembles and loads case carts.
• Receives periodic training in such areas as the use and functioning of new equipment, instruments, new or improved sterilization practices, and developments in new technology as it affects SPS operations.
• Monitors operation of sterilizers with prescribed tests in accordance with manufacturer's guidelines and documents appropriately.
• Prepares bacteriological spore tests and reads the results of the test, recording those results as appropriate.
• Receives sterilized trays, sets, and equipment from the sterilizer, checks for effectiveness of sterilization, places tags on sterilized material indicating date of sterilization and expiration date, and stocks shelves with sterilized material using first in first out method.
• Out takes all sterile items that are leaving the department by reconciling the inventory sheets that have been uploaded into the e-QMS (electronic quality monitoring system); out take areas include all user services and sterile storage.
• Decontaminates the full range of reusable medical equipment used in the medical center's patient care units, clinics and procedure rooms.
• Determines and uses the appropriate method for removing gross contamination and bioburden, disassembles and reassembles equipment where the internal parts become contaminated by following manufacturer guidelines for cleaning.
• Operates various kinds of equipment such as ultrasonic cleaners, washers, dental handpiece service units, leak testers, sterilizers, AER's, Steris, and Sterrad.
• Determines the correct method for pre-cleaning and decontamination.
• Removes soil, blood, bone, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other gross contaminants by wiping, soaking, rinsing, scrubbing, brushing and the use of ultrasonic equipment.
• Loads, unloads and operates Instrument washer disinfector and ultrasonic washer, accurately determining the settings based on the manufacturer's instructions for use (IFU) and the high-risk protocols for each device.
• Responsible for the cleaning, leak testing, decontamination and selection of proper method of sterilization and/or high-level disinfection for flexible and rigid endoscopes in accordance with the manufacturer guidelines.
• Utilizes the e-QMS (electronic quality monitoring system) to scan and upload inventory sheets that accompany RME being brought to the decontamination room.
• Inventories items received to ensure compliance of receiving complete surgical trays and cassettes and individual devices.
• Enters all non-conformities and requirements not met into the e-QMS (electronic quality monitoring system).
• Covers other shifts as needed within the department.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship: Citizen of the United States.
• Experience and/or Education (must meet one):
  • Experience: Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work.
  • Education: One year above high school that included at least 6 semester hours in health care related courses such as sterile processing, nursing assistant, hospital corpsman, and operating room and surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position.
  • Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.
• Certification: None.
• Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional US programs.
• English Language Proficiency: MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

GS-06 (Full Performance Level) Grade Requirements:

• Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
  • Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
  • Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures.
  • Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation.
  • Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.
• Assignment: This is the full performance level for the occupation. Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area and may receive noncritical equipment in the decontamination area as well. Disassembles the RME and determines the correct cleaning method, such as but not limited to ultrasonic cleaners, mechanical washers, cart washers and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents, as determined by manufacturer instructions. Inspects, assembles and determines the correct method and packaging for final processing such as but not limited to steam or hydrogen peroxide (H202) sterilization or high-level disinfecting. Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment.

Preferred Experience:

• A minimum of 2 years experience in Sterile Processing.
• Have 400 hours of on hand experience.
• CRCST Certification from HSPCA or CBSPD preferred.
• Previous experience with OneSource, must be able to navigate computer programs with ease.
• Ability to follow detailed instructions.

Physical Requirements

This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply (preparation) and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus. The employee may be required to work in areas that are may at times be warm/hot, drafty or varied light. The employee is subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries from material handling equipment. The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of packages (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds). The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Pay & Benefits

• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time off per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience.
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement).

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 10:00a-06:30p. Flexible as needed per department.