Medical Supply Tech (Sterile Processing)

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.

01Basic Requirements

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. Experience and/or Education: Experience. Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work; or 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 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. Grandfathering Provision.

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).

02Grade Determinations

GS-06 (Full Performance Level) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Specialized Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-06 you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5).

Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Removing soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other containments by wiping, soaking, rinsing, and scrubbing; Inspecting packages for indications of proper sterilization, assembling basic sets and trays used throughout a medical facility including those used in the operating room; preparing, loading, and operating sterilizers such as steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO, and a high level disinfecting scope reprocessor; prepares operating room case carts daily using surgery schedule.

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.

03Preferred Experience

Experience in a Sterile Processing Department Knowledge of cleaning, high level disinfection and sterilization methods Familiarity with reusable medical equipment and 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-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-06.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below: 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

04Physical Requirements

This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply (preparation) and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility. The incumbent may be required to work in areas that are hot, cold, drafty and poorly lighted. 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. On a regular and recurring basis, the employee alternates between a contaminated environment and a carefully controlled clean environment.

The employee wears special clothing, hair covers, personal protective equipment and shoe covers that can be uncomfortably warm. The employee uses insulated gloves to remove carts from sterilizers. The employee is subject to burns from accidentally touching hot items. The hazards of working around chemicals for reprocessing RME. The employee often works around body fluids, mucous, excretions and bits of tissue, some of which may be foul smelling.

Strong, unpleasant odors are encountered while decontaminating bloody or grossly contaminated instrumentation or reusable medical equipment. The work areas are noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts and the operation of reprocessing equipment. 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/.

Duties of the Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) include but are not limited to: The technician will provide sterilization, preparation, supply items and reusable medical equipment decontamination and distribution support for the medical center.

The term "supply item" as used for this position refers to disposable and reusable items for patient care including instrumentation (scissors, forceps, retractors, etc.), Reusable Medical Devices (RMD) (suction machines infusion pumps, etc.), surgical trays and sets and various other items that could be processed or assembled through the Preparation and Decontamination areas of Sterile Processing Service.

MST position removes soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids and other contaminants 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, vaporized hydrogen peroxide, and a high-level disinfecting scope reprocess; may prepare operating room case carts daily utilizing surgery schedule.

Performs segments of work pertaining to the decontamination, sterilization, and inspection of RMD. Completes segments of work pertaining to the assembly of basic sets and trays for use in the medical center. Operates equipment involved in sterilization processes. May be required to prepare operating room case carts.

Technician requires knowledge of the processes for RMD and maintains current knowledge of the Standard Operating Procedures which document the processes and procedures for cleaning, disinfection, sterilization and preparation of RMD appropriate to this position. Demonstrates the ability to utilize an acceptable proficiency in the use of RMD appropriate to this position. Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RMD in decontamination area(s) such as main decontamination and GI Scope decontamination.

Receives noncritical case carts in the decontamination area for transport of RMD as well. Disassembles the RMD and determines the correct cleaning method, such as but not limited to manual cleaning, ultrasonic cleaners, mechanical washers, cart washers and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents as determined by manufactures instructions.

Inspects, prepares, assembles and determines the correct method of packaging for sterilization such as but not limited to Steam, Plasma (Sterrad), and high-level disinfection such as Cidex OPA, bleach, hydrogen peroxide, and the Automated Equipment Reprocessor (AER). Prepares operating rooms trays and containers daily utilizing surgery schedule. Removes soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids and other contaminants by wiping, soaking, rinsing and scrubbing.

Inspects packages for indications of proper sterilization, assembles basic sets and trays used throughout the outpatient clinic including those used in the operating room. Performs segments of work pertaining to the decontamination, sterilization and inspection of RMD. Completes segments of work pertaining to the assembly of basic sets and trays for use in the outpatient clinic. Operates equipment involved in sterilization processes.

Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment. Work Schedule: 3:30pm - Midnight or 11:30pm to 8:00am. Rotating Shifts and Weekends Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized 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. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized