Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Iron Mountain (MI); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

The Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, MI seeks a Medical Supply Technician (MST) in Sterile Processing.

The incumbent will decontaminate, clean, disinfect, prepare, sterilize, transport and store reusable medical devices to support patient care in accordance with VA directives and SOPs. Applicants must meet English proficiency and citizenship requirements; experience or education pathways are described.

Qualifications

• US Citizenship is required to be appointed.
• English language proficiency as per VA policy.
• Six months experience or two years of health-related education or equivalent.
• Grandfathering provision may apply to current VHA employees in this occupation.

Responsibilities

• Decontaminate, clean, disinfect, prepare and sterilize reusable medical devices.
• Transport and store sterile processing equipment to support patient care.
• Operate sterilizers and maintain sterile processing in accordance with SOPs and MIFU.
• Adhere to universal precautions and safety standards in a clinical setting.

Job description

This position serves as a Medical Supply Technician (MST) with the Oscar G. Johnson, VAMC (OGJVAMC), Sterile Processing Service (SPS). The position, the incumbent will provide decontamination, cleaning, disinfection, preparation, sterilization, transport and storage of Reusable Medical Devices (RMD) to support the medical center in accordance with VHA Directives, department Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Manufacturer's Instructions For Use (MIFU). 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: Medical Supply Technicians (MSTs) must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j.
• Experience:
  • Six (6) months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work. OR,
  • One year of education 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,
  • Have the equivalent combination of experience and education.

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-03

• Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-04

• 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 (2) 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 US. 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.

AND

• Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to meeting the experience or education for the GS-04 level, you must possess all of the following KSAs.
  • 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: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Performing segments of work pertaining to the decontamination, sterilization and inspection of reusable medical equipment (RME); completing segments of work pertaining to the assembly of basic sets and trays for use in the medical center; operating equipment involved in sterilization processes; preparing 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.

AND

• Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to meeting the experience or education for the GS-04 level, you must possess all of the following KSAs.
  • 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: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Removing soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other containments by wiping, soaking, rinsing, and scrubbing; Inspecting packages for indications of proper sterilization, assembling basic sets and trays used throughout a medical facility including those used in the operating room; preparing, loading, and operating sterilizers such as steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO, and a high level disinfecting scope reprocessor; prepares operating room case carts daily using surgery schedule.

AND

• Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to meeting the experience or education for the GS-04 level, you must possess all of the following KSAs.
  • 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 regard to instrumentation.
  • Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.

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-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: Walking, standing twisting, turning, sitting, pushing, bending, repetitive keyboarding, or carrying of light items. Some positions may require sitting for long periods of time at a computer terminal typing data while talking on a telephone headset.