Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

Summary This position serves as a Medical Supply Technician (MST) with the Oscar G. Johnson - VAMC (OGJVAMC) - Sterile Processing Service (SPS). The position - the incumbent will provide decontamination - cleaning - disinfection - preparation - sterilization - transport and storage of Reusable Medical Devices (RMD) to support the medical center in accordance with VHA Directives - department Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Manufacturer's Instructions For Use (MIFU). Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyEnglish Language Proficiency: Medical Supply Technicians (MSTs) must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section A - Paragraph 3jExperience: Six (6) months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the workOR - One year of education 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 positionOR - Have the equivalent combination of experience and educationMay qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)Grade Determinations: GS-03: Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirementsGS-04: Experience: Six months experience as a MST - operating room or surgical technician or other position that demonstrated knowledge of sterile processing in a clinical settingOR - Education: Two (2) years of education above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupationNOTE: Successful completion of a course for medical technicians - hospital corpsmen - medical service specialists - or nursing assistants obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces - the USMaritime Service - or hospitals under close medical and professional supervision - may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to 6 months of experienceAND Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to meeting the experience or education for the GS-04 level - you must possess all of the following KSAsKnowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contaminationBasic knowledge of medical terminology in order to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument setsBasic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipmentAbility to communicate both orally and in writingGS-05: Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade levelExamples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Performing segments of work pertaining to the decontamination - sterilization and inspection of reusable medical equipment (RME)completing segments of work pertaining to the assembly of basic sets and trays for use in the medical centeroperating equipment involved in sterilization processespreparing operating room case cartsOR - Education: Four academic years above high school leading to a Bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation or a Bachelor's degreeAND Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to meeting the experience or education for the GS-04 level - you must possess all of the following KSAsBasic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settingsBasic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterilityKnowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipmentGS-06: Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade levelExamples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Removing soil - blood - tissue fragments - body fluids - and other containments by wiping - soaking - rinsing - and scrubbingInspecting packages for indications of proper sterilization - assembling basic sets and trays used throughout a medical facility including those used in the operating roompreparing - loading - and operating sterilizers such as steam - Sterrad - Steris - ETO - and a high level disinfecting scope reprocessorprepares operating room case carts daily using surgery scheduleAND Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to meeting the experience or education for the GS-04 level - you must possess all of the following KSAsKnowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settingsKnowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contaminationWorking knowledge of medical terminology - anatomy and physiology - microbiology - medical conditions and proceduresKnowledge of sterility principles in regard to instrumentationAbility to read and interpret written instructions and proceduresReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06Physical Requirements: Walking - standing twisting - turning - sitting - pushing - bending - repetitive keyboarding - or carrying of light itemsSome positions may require sitting for long periods of time at a computer terminal typing data while talking on a telephone headset. Duties Major Duties: Receives contaminated critical (exsurgical instruments) - semi-critical (exendoscopes) - and noncritical (exinfusion pumps) RMDProperly identifies and disassembles RMD and determines correct cleaning method(s) for each device - such as but not limited to manual washing - ultrasonic cleaning - cart washing - chemical cleaning - and mechanical washer/disinfectorConducts quality assurance and verification testing of cleaning and disinfecting processesInspects - assembles - and performs functionality testing of all RMD in preparation areaDetermines the correct method of packaging (container - wrap - peel pack) and properly packages all RMDFollows SOPs and MIFU to properly sterilize or high-level disinfect RMD through steam sterilization - low-temperature chemical sterilization - and automatic endoscope reprocessor useUtilizes instrument tracking system to document all reprocessing activitiesPerforms and documents daily operational checks - validation processes - verification testing and records for all sterilization equipment and processesConducts daily - weekly - and monthly cleaning of reprocessing areas and RMD storage areasTransports RMD from soiled utility rooms throughout facility to SPS and from SPS to RMD storage areas in accordance with department SOPSuccessfully completes and maintains competency in all department processesPerforms other duties as assignedWork Schedule: Monday- Friday8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 06637F - 06636F - 06635F - 06634F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized