Medical Supply Tech (Sterile Processing)

This position is under the close supervision of the Supervisory Medical Supply Technician and is accountable to the Chief SPS through the Assistant Chief SPS. The Supervisor and/or Service Chief/Assistant Chief will assign work with standing instructions on objectives priorities deadlines and provides guidance for unusually involved situations. The employee will work as a team member with other Medical Supply Technicians of various experience to carry out the daily workload utilizing the written standard operating procedures and/or manufacturers written instructions in accordance with instructions policies previous training or accepted standard practices. The supervisor evaluates completed work for overall technical soundness and conformance to agency policies through competency assessment utilizing simulation direct observation and verbal responses from the incumbent. Duties are as follows but not limited to:

• Per VHA Directive 1116(2) chapter 7a and d all new Medical Supply Technicians must complete Level I training within 90 days of hire. Additionally all Medical Supply Technicians must participate in continuing education such as computer-based training or in-service education sessions leading to 12 education hours annually. Level 2 training will be completed as soon as possible.
• Collects and receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area and may receive noncritical equipment in the decontamination area as well.
• Inspects packages for indications of proper sterilization.
• Recognizes basic instruments though knowledge or use of available resources to accurately assemble basic surgical trays.
• Performs environmental maintenance duties assists in maintaining inventory levels.
• Transports items including RME to clinical areas.
• Recognizes abnormal workings of equipment and alarm conditions to leads or supervisors to make necessary adjustments to complex decontamination and sterilization equipment.
• Maintains clean clutter free work environment including but not limited to appropriate par levels replacing loose instrumentation in appropriate storage locations scanning trays following policy and procedures to appropriate storage location and putting trays in correct location.
• Provides customer service by fielding requests from end-users. Consistently demonstrates effective customer service by interacting with co-workers staff patients visitors students and volunteers in a courteous and professional manner.

OCHCO Bulletin Subject: Annual Determination of Staffing Shortages dated October 3 2023. Although hybrid title 38 occupations follow title 5 Veterans preference rules as required by the Merit Systems Protection Board (Graves v. VA 117 M.S.P.R. 697 (2012)) 38 U.S.C. 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans preference to external applicants for appointments made during the fiscal year to hybrid title 38 occupations among those reported to have the largest staffing shortages

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional:

Schedule: (Rotating shifts)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See Additional Information below for details.

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 Policy.
• Education and/or Experience:
• (1) Experience. Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicants ability to perform the work or provides and 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.
• English Language Proficiency: MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3 section A paragraph 3j this part.

Preferred Experience: Those candidates previous experience in the cleansing decontamination preparation packaging sterilization and high level disinfection of reusable medical equipment. SPS Level 1 TMS training (12 modules).Defensive driver/Mini Fleet TMS course. Knowledge and experience of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinics settings; universal precautions; infection control measures; sterility and High Level Disinfection (HLD) principles. Knowledge and experience in management or reprocessing of endoscopes; orthopedic and open heart surgery instrumentation. International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management (IAHCSMM) certification. May 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).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:

• (1) 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.
• (2) 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.
• (3) 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.

Grade Determinations:GS-03 (Entry Level):

• Experience: (none beyond 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 addition to the experience or education above the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below:
  • 1. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
    2. Basic knowledge of medical terminology in order to assemble specialty operating
    room/clinic instrument sets.
  • 3. Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.
  • 4. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.

GS-05 (Developmental Level)

• Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level; OR
• Education: Four academic years above high school leading to a Bachelors degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation or a Bachelors degree.
• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and addition to the experience or education above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • 1. Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
  • 2. Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility.
  • 3. Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.

GS-06 (Full Performance Level)

• Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • 1. Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
  • 2. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
  • 3. Working knowledge of medical terminology anatomy and physiology microbiology medical conditions and procedures.
  • 4. Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation.
  • 5. Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.

References: VA Handbook 5005/76 Part II Appendix full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06.

Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting 45 lbs. and over; Heavy carrying 45 lbs. and over; Straight pulling; Pushing heavy weight carts; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking; Standing; Kneeling; Repeated bending; Climbing legs only; Near vision correctable at 13 to 16 to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted). Dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating inspecting disassembly and assembly of instrumentation. Requires attention to details. Standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of packages (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds). This work is performed in various settings: decontamination preparation clean sterile supply (preparation) and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus. Environmental Factors: Outside and inside; Slippery or uneven walking surfaces; Working closely with others.