Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

Veterans Health Administration; Augusta (ME); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Veterans Health Administration is seeking a Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) at the VA Maine Healthcare System in Augusta, ME. This is a full-time position working 40 hours per week in the Sterile Processing Service.

Responsibilities include decontamination, sterilization, inspection of reusable medical equipment, and assembly of operating room sets, with operation of various sterilizers and preparation of case carts for daily use.

Qualifications

• Six months of experience or one year of education with at least 6 semester hours in healthcare-related courses such as sterile processing, nursing assistant, or operating room/surgical technician courses.
• Education and experience can be combined to qualify for entry level.
• Foreign education must be evaluated for equivalence to U.S. education.

Responsibilities

• Decontaminate, sterilize and inspect reusable medical equipment (RME).
• Assemble basic sets and trays for use in the medical center.
• Operate sterilizers (steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO) and related equipment.
• Prepare operating room case carts for daily use.

Skills

Universal precautions

Medical terminology

Sterilization equipment

Oral and written communication

Education

Two years of education above high school incl. 12 semester hours in related courses

Job description

The Medical Supply Technician position is in the Sterile Processing Service at the VA Maine Healthcare System located at the Augusta, ME 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. English Language Proficiency: MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d). Experience and/or Education: Experience: Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work; OR 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 Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. 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.

GS-03 Experience or Education (Entry Level)

None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-04 Experience or Education: (Developmental Level)

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 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. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's) below: Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination. Basic knowledge of medical terminology in order to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets. Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.

GS-05 Experience or Education: (Developmental Level)

Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS 4); Duties may include, but are not limited to: Performs segments of work pertaining to the decontamination, sterilization and inspection of reusable medical equipment (RME). Completes segments of work pertaining to the assembly of basic sets and trays for use in the medical center. Operates equipment involved in sterilization processes. Prepares operating room case carts. OR 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. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's) below: Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings. Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility. Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.

GS-06 Experience: (Full Performance Level)

One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS 5). Duties may include, but are not limited to: 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. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's) below: Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination. Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures. Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation. Ability to read and interpret written i