Medical Supply Technician-Instrument Management System Coordinator (Sterile Processing)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Leavenworth (KS); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Censitrac experience/knowledge

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs in Kansas is seeking a Medical Supply Technician - Instrument Management System Coordinator to support the EKHCS Sterile Processing Service. The MST-IMSC will apply knowledge of Reusable Medical Devices and instrument management to ensure safe, compliant processing and documentation across the facility.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate KSAs in problem solving, infection control and communication, and will work with SPS staff to improve quality and

Qualifications

• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• KSAs: fact-finding, data analysis, corrective action, infection control and QA.
• Proficiency in Word, Excel and other software programs.
• Aseptic principles, sterilization, shelf life and related practices.

Skills

Practical KSAs

Investigative skills

Analysis & action

Infection control knowledge

MS Word & Excel

Aseptic principles

Communication (oral & written)

Education

One year above high school health-related coursework

Combination of experience and education available

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

The Medical Supply Technician - Instrument Management System Coordinator works in support of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), VISN 15, Eastern Kansas HealthCare System (EKHCS) Sterile Processing Service (SPS) management team. The incumbent is the Medical Supply Technician - Instrument Management System Coordinator (MST-IMSC), Sterile Processing Service (SPS) who will have knowledge of the processes of Reusable Medical Devices (RMD) as required by this position.

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.
• Education or Experience:
  • Experience: Six months of creditable experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides and understanding of the work.
  • Education: Successful completion of one (1) 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.
  • Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education as described above.
• English Language Proficiency: Applicants must be proficient in spoken and written English.

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.

Qualifications Requirements

GS-07 Medical Supply Technician - Instrument Management System Coordinator (Sterile Processing) Qualification standard, GS-0622.

(1) Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

(2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs.

• Practical knowledge of conventional fact-finding or investigative techniques in order to evaluate internal work processes.
• Skill to develop, analyze and evaluate facts relative to unsatisfactory conditions or trends.
• Knowledge of and skill in applying various methods of techniques for investigating, analyzing and recommending corrective action on complex quality problems.
• Knowledge of the SPS policies and procedural manuals, infection control procedures, and accrediting agencies and quality assurance guidelines to assure appropriateness of work during quality assurance reviews.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and other software programs.
• Thorough knowledge of aseptic principles and techniques, which include sterilized operations, sterilizer mediums, and tests to determine the effectiveness of sterilization, packaging, storage, and shelf life.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to ensure staff compliance with written directives, rules and regulations.

Preferred Experience

Censitrac experience/knowledge

Reference

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

Physical 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.

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 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 equipment. The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts and operation of pre-sterilizing equipment.