Medical Supply Tech (Sterile Processing)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Sioux Falls (SD); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Sioux Falls VA Health Care System is seeking a Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) to support the Sterile Processing Service. The incumbent sterilizes, prepares, decontaminates, and distributes reusable medical equipment for the Medical Center, ensuring compliance with safety standards.

Requirements include US citizenship, minimum education/experience in health care-related sterile processing, and English proficiency.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of surgical instruments used in sterile processing.
• Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
• Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and related conditions.
• Knowledge of sterility principles as they apply to instrumentation.
• Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Provide sterilization, preparation, supply items and reusable medical equipment decontamination support per policy.
• Assist in distribution of sterile items to medical center departments and operating rooms.

Skills

Surgical instruments knowledge

Universal precautions

Medical terminology

Sterility principles

Reading/interpreting procedures

Education

High school diploma with health care coursework

Tools

Sterilizers: steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO

Job description

Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

will support the Sterile Processing Service with the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System. The incumbent will provide sterilization, preparation, supply items and reusable medical equipment decontamination and distribution support for the Medical Center.

Basic Requirements

• a. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3g.)
• b. 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.
• c. Certification. None.
• d. 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).
• e. 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.
• g. English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part.
• (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  1. 1. Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
  2. 2. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
  3. 3. Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures.
  4. 4. Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation.
  5. 5. Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with MST responsibilities.

Grade Determinations

GS-06 (Full Performance Level)

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

Examples of experience at the next lower grade level include the following.

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 reprocessor; prepares operating room case carts daily using surgery schedule.

Preferred Experience

HSPA 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-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-6.

Physical Requirements

You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.