Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing Advanced)

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. 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. English Language Proficiency.

MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d). 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-07: Advanced Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-06. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Detailed knowledge of complex surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings. Ability to assemble specialty operating room and clinic instrument sets. In-depth knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.

Ability to communicate both orally and in writing in order to convey information and thoughts to others. Assignment. The Advanced MST assembles highly complex instrument sets including, but not limited to, open heart, major orthopedic total joint, cardiovascular, craniotomy and complex endoscopic instrumentation. Processes all complex endoscopic instrumentation to include those medical devices used in the gastroenterology laboratory, bronchoscopy laboratory, urology and operating room.

Reviews manufacturer guidelines to ensure the correct methods and parameters are followed when cleaning, decontaminating and sterilizing RMD. Troubleshoots and analyzes mechanical failures and makes necessary adjustments to complex decontamination and sterilization equipment, as well as interprets alarm conditions which may occur while operating the equipment.

Informs management and healthcare staff when cleaning and processing standard operating procedures (SOPs) or instruction for use have been changed or updated to assure the changes have been validated to meet all guidelines.

03Preferred Experience

2+ years of experience in Sterile Processing Experience Demonstrated ability with reprocessing flexible endoscopes, endoscopy certification preferred. 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-07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7.

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/campus. 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, see VA Directive and Handbook 5019..

The Advanced Medical Supply Technician (MST) is assigned to Sterile Processing Service (SPS) and provides safe efficient practices for decontamination, high level disinfection, instrument assembly and sterilization for all SPS.

The Advanced MST supports SPS initiatives to meet the facility needs for critical and semi-critical Reusable Medical Equipment (RMD).Duties include but are not limited to: Decontamination of RMD: Collects, receives, decontaminates and inspects all soiled, instruments, equipment, and apparatus to include complex diagnostic equipment and medical apparatus; Ensures disassembly of removable parts to ensure RMD can be appropriately decontaminated to ensure all bioburden is removed.

Completely and thoroughly disassembles and positions all parts of technical RME to ensure the removal of bioburden. Performs leak tests on flexible endoscopes to determine the integrity of the scope is intact prior to initiating the cleaning and high-level disinfection or terminal sterilization process.

Operates decontamination equipment such as washer decontaminators, ultrasonic equipment, cart washers, automated electronic solution/dilution dispensers, and irrigators; Follows all manufacturers' instructions on cleaning/decontamination of RMD using department's Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and manufacturer guidelines.

Sterilization: Inspects, assembles, packages, and sterilizes all trays, sets, and packs used for a variety of general and specialized medical and surgical procedures; Performs RMD integrity testing in accordance with the Quality Management Program (e.g. uses laparoscopic insulation tester, borescope type channel checks, biological sterilizer testing, visual inspection and instrument integrity checks; Maintains records for all high level disinfect and sterilization that are processed including interpretation of all biological monitoring, minimum effective concentration levels (MEC), validation of monitoring results, and quality assurance checks to ensure parameters are met.

Quality Assurance Support and Reports: Performs quality assurance activities including but not limited to monitoring biological and chemical indicators and integrators, Bowie dick tests, time/temperature graphs (if applicable), and ensuring appropriate RMD checks are performed and documented prior to and after sterilization or reprocessing; Performs other quality assurance activities including verifying accuracy of labeling, contents, cleanliness, appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is worn, work orders entered in computer, and sterilization parameters checks; Evaluates gathered data and based upon findings, makes recommendations to improve effectiveness or processes; Follows local Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) which are written in accordance with the manufacturers' written instructions for reprocessing RMD; Consults SPS leads or supervisor(s) when clarification of written instructions are needed; fully understands the reprocessing of reusable medical equipment is never based on vendors' verbal instructions, as this is not an adequate practice.

May be assigned additional duties and to "on-call" tours and when called in must be able to work independently in performing all duties. Work Schedule-Full-Time, 40 hours a week. EST Sunday-Friday 11:00pm -7:30am night shift, every other Saturday 7:00am-3:30pm. Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: FS F07991.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Preferred Experience: 3-5 years of sterile processing service experience Advanced knowledge of specialty instrumentation Professional sterile processing certification Demonstrated ability with reprocessing flexible endoscopes Notifications: This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies with various shifts,(Days, Evenings or Nights). This position is in the Excepted Service.

EDRP is not Authorized. This position is covered by a special rate. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).

In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.