Medical Supply Tech (Sterile Processing)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Aurora (CO); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs, Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Sterile Processing Services in Sterile Processing is seeking a technician to clean, decontaminate, inspect, and prepare instruments for sterilization. The role includes quality assurance and inventory duties across multiple processing areas.

Ideal candidates have experience or education in health care related sterile processing and must demonstrate knowledge of universal precautions and medical terminology.

Qualifications

• Six months of related work experience or an education program in health care fields.
• One year above high school with at least 6 semester hours in health care related courses.
• Experience/education combination can qualify for entry level positions.

Responsibilities

• Clean, decontaminate, inspect, and perform quality assurance and inventory.
• Prepare instruments for sterilization and sterilize/disinfect reusable medical devices.

Skills

Sterile processing

Surgical instruments

Universal precautions

Medical terminology

Reading procedures

Education

One year above high school with health care courses

Experience/education combination acceptable

Job description

The position is within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), at the Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS) in Sterile Processing Services (SPS).

The primary purpose of the technician is to clean, decontaminate, inspect, and perform quality assurance and inventory functions; prepare instruments for sterilization; and sterilize and/or disinfect medical instruments, surgical instruments, and other reusable medical devices (RMD).

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.

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 writtenEnglish in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part.

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).

Grade Determinations

GS-6:

Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In 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.

Preferred Experience

2 years of sterile processing experience. Experience processing reusable medical devices (RMD) at a Level 1 Trauma Center. Experience processing flexible endoscopes for GI.

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy and the actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-6.

Physical Requirements

This work is performed in multiple settings, including decontamination, preparation, clean/sterile supply (preparation and packaging), 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, or poorly lighted. The employee is exposed to a risk of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries related to material-handling equipment. The position requires frequent talking, frequent bending, and lifting of packages (occasionally weighing up to 50 pounds). Standing for more than 8 hours per shift, as well as pushing, pulling, and lifting throughout the shift, is required.

The work requires dexterity and visual and auditory acuity to manipulate, disassemble, and assemble 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, which can be uncomfortably warm. Insulated gloves are used to remove carts from sterilizers, and the employee is subject to burns from accidentally touching hot items.

The hazards of working around minute quantities of sterilizing gases are unknown. Technicians may be exposed to fumes from various high-level disinfectants and cleaning chemicals and are periodically monitored and tested for exposure to certain hazardous chemicals. The employee often works around body fluids, mucus, excretions, and bits of tissue, some of which may be foul smelling. Strong, unpleasant odors are encountered when decontaminating bloody or grossly contaminated instrumentation or reusable medical devices (RMD). The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, the rumbling of carts, and the operation of pre-sterilization equipment.