Medical Supply Tech (Sterile Processing) Advanced

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Hartford (VT); On-site; USD 47,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

US Department of Veterans Affairs at the White River Junction VA Medical Center in Vermont is seeking a full-time Advanced Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) to join the Sterile Processing service. This GS-07 position focuses on assembling complex instrument sets, sterilization, and maintaining SOP compliance in a highly regulated environment.

The candidate should demonstrate knowledge of intricate surgical instruments, troubleshoot equipment, and communicate effectively with

Qualifications

• Six months of experience demonstrating ability to perform the work or understand the work.
• One year above high school with at least 6 semester hours in health care related courses such as sterile processing, nursing assistant, hospital corpsman, operating room and surgical technician courses or other related courses.
• English proficiency in speaking and writing per VA standards.

Responsibilities

• Assemble highly complex instrument sets used in operating rooms and clinics.
• Process sterilization, decontamination and cleaning of instruments according to SOPs.
• Review manufacturer guidelines to ensure correct methods and parameters.
• Troubleshoot and analyze mechanical failures in decontamination equipment and communicate changes to staff.

Skills

Sterile processing

Instrument handling

English proficiency

Communication skills

Education

High school + health care courses

Experience: 6 months in related field

Job description

The Advance Medical Supply Technician position is in the Sterile Processing service at the White River Junction VA Medical Center, located at the White River Junction, Vermont location. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week.

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 written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

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-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 RME. 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

Preferred Experience

Processing complex endoscopic instrumentation, troubleshoots and analyzes mechanical failures, makes necessary adjustments to complex decontamination and sterilization equipment.

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-07.

Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.