Medical Supply Techician (Sterile Processing)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Erie (Erie County); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Erie VA Medical Center's Sterile Processing Services is seeking an entry-level Medical Supply Technician to support decontamination, preparation and distribution of reusable medical devices in a hospital setting.

Position covers decontamination, sterilization and assembly of instrument sets under supervision, with potential progression to higher GS levels; candidates with basic healthcare coursework are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and cross contamination.
• Basic medical terminology for instrument sets.
• Ability to read and follow written instructions.

Responsibilities

• Decontaminate, sterilize, and inspect reusable medical devices.
• Assemble instrument sets and operate room case carts.

Skills

Universal precautions

Written communication

Sterile processing KSAs

Education

Six months related experience

High school + health courses

Job description

This position is in the Sterile Processing Services (SPS) program under Patient Care Services at the Erie Veterans Affairs Medical Center. SPS consists of multiple areas, the incumbent of this position will be supporting the decontamination, preparation and distribution of the hospital's critical and semi-critical reusable (RMD) medical devices.

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.
• 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.
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English 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).

Grandfathering Provision

All MSTs that are employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-622 occupational series as MSTs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation. (2) MSTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (3) MSTs who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation

Grade Determinations

GS-03 (Entry Level)

(a) Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements. (b) Assignment. This is an entry level MST position. MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision.

GS-04 (Developmental Level)

(a) Experience. Six months experience as a MST, operating room or surgical technician or other position that demonstrated knowledge of sterile processing in a clinical setting; or(b) Education. Two years of education above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation. NOTE: Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or nursing assistants obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces, the U.S. Maritime Service, or hospitals under close medical and professional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to 6 months of experience. (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below:1. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.2. Basic knowledge of medical terminology in order to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets.3. Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning devices.4. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing. (d) Assignment. This is a developmental level MST position. Performs segments of work pertaining to the decontamination, sterilization and inspection of reusable medical devices (RME). Completes segments of work pertaining to the assembly of basic sets and trays for use in the medical center. Operates devices involved in sterilization processes. Prepares operating room case carts. MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision.

GS-05 (Developmental Level)

(a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level; or (b) Education. Four academic years above high school leading to a Bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation or a Bachelor's degree. (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.2. Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility.3. Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning devices.

GS-06 (Full Performance Level)

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

References

VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G47 dated July 8, 2015.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS--06.

Physical Requirements

Employee stands and moves from one part of room to another while performing duties. There is frequent requirement for lifting baskets, weighting up to 25 lbs., from floor level to chest level and occasional requirements for similarly lifting baskets weighting up to 50 lbs. The employee regularly pushes loaded heavily weighted carts and works them over slight rises such as door sills. Dexterity and strength required for assembly of component parts of medical devices and in lifting and positioning instrument trays weighing 10-20 lbs. into sterilizing cart. The work requires dexterity and visual acuity. The employee alternates between contaminated environment and carefully controlled clean environment. The employee wears special clothing, hair covers, personal protective devices 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 minute quantities of sterilizing gasses are unknown. 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 devices. The work area is noisy due to clatter of metal instruments, rumbling carts and operation o