Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

Full Job Description

This position is located within VA Altoona in the Sterile Processing Service Line.

The Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing, SPS) at the full performance level will perform work independently and without supervision.

Incumbent is responsible for cleaning Reusable Medical Devices (RMD) within specified decontaminate areas and completes more advanced tasks.

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

Experience and/or Education: (1) Experience: Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work, OR; (2) 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, OR; (3) 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 U.

S. programs. English Language Proficiency: MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part.

Grade Determinations: GS-3 (Entry Level) Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-04 (Developmental Level) Experience: Six months experience as a MST, operating room or surgical technician or other position that demonstrated knowledge of sterile processing in a clinical setting; or Education: Two years of education above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation.

NOTE: 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 U.S.

Maritime Service, or hospitals under close medical and professional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to 6 months of experience.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below: Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.

Basic knowledge of medical terminology in order to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets. Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.

Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.

GS-05 (Developmental Level) Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level; or 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 degree.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.

Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility. Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.

GS-06 (Full Performance Level) Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (Removes soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other containments by wiping, soaking, rinsing, and scrubbing.

Inspects packages for indications of proper sterilization, assembles basic sets and trays used throughout the medical center including those used in the operating room.

Prepares, loads, and operates sterilizers such as steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO, and a high level disinfecting scope re-processor; prepares operating room case carts daily using surgery schedule.

MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more complex tasks and require direct supervision on new assignments).

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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 Preferred Experience: Preferred for applicant: at least one year sterile processing experience, HSPA Certification, knowledge of Instrument Tracking System (ITS) and knowledge of surgical instruments.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6.

Grandfathering Provision: All MSTs that are employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.

For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees grandfathered into the GS-622 occupational series as MSTs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation.

MSTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.

MSTs who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Major Duties:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Medical Supply Technician (SPS) at the GS-6 full performance level is responsible for the collection of all used/soiled, semi-critical and critical Reusable Medical Equipment (RMD) throughout the medical center.

The incumbent utilizes proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection prevention procedures to prevent cross-contamination of other equipment and personnel during the collection and transport of the soiled RMD.

The MST is responsible for the systematic manual cleaning and disinfection of semi-critical and critical clinical equipment according to selected methods and strict manufacturer instructions.

Major duties include, but may not be limited to: Following all safety and infection prevention rules, regulations and requirements within the decontamination and sterile preparation area.

Demonstrates an advanced knowledge of aseptic techniques and understands how to implement procedures to prevent the spread of infection per VHA Infection Prevention guidelines.

Independently performs cleaning and disinfection procedures within scope of their position. Disassembles and determines correct cleaning methods as determined by manufacturer instructions.

Advanced knowledge of facility approved cleaning/disinfectant solution, and procedures. Vast knowledge of sterilization and decontamination techniques.

Inspects, assembles and determines the correct method and packaging for sterilization, such as, but not limited to steam, low-temperature sterilization, Steris, and high-level disinfecting scope reprocesses.

Prepares, loads, and operates sterilizers, such as steam or low temperature (hydrogen peroxide) and high-level disinfecting endoscope re-processor.

Processes, assembles and performs all phases of sterilization for intricate surgical trays and microsurgery instruments for the operating room (trays contain large numbers of unique, non- 2 interchangeable, specialized surgical instruments of similar appearance, with minor variations in size, conformation, and nomenclature, but with major variation in application.

Preparation of Ambulatory Surgery Unit case carts using the daily surgery schedule.

Maintains a higher-level of functional awareness of facility policies and procedures; often providing guidance to entry or developmental staff.

Research and applies the JCAHO, OSHA and FDA standards as they pertain to sterile processing and the distribution of medical supplies. Pick-up and deliver RMD throughout the facility.

Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all processes and equipment. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm and 11:00am - 7:30pm; Monday - Friday, tours of duty are required to rotate.

Compressed/Flexible: Not available Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not available Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized.

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 offer 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) Telework: Not available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 03240-F / Medical Supply Technician Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized.