Medical Supply Technician ( Sterile Processing)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Manchester (NH); On-site; USD 32,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

The VA Sterile Processing Service at Manchester NH handles decontamination, assembly, sterilization, storage, and high level disinfection of reusable medical devices. Morning to evening shifts may apply, with responsibilities across decontamination, prep, sterilization, and case cart preparation for operating rooms.

Candidates should meet basic requirements, including healthcare education or experience, and demonstrate KSAs in safety, terminology, and instrument handling as part of the VA’s

Qualifications

• Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
• Basic knowledge of medical terminology to assemble instrument sets.
• Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.
• Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Support Sterile Processing Services to ensure safe reprocessing of reusable medical devices and surgical instrumentation.
• Receive contaminated RME in decontamination area and determine cleaning method.
• Inspect, assemble and package for sterilization (steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO, HLDisinfect).
• Prepare operating room case carts daily using surgery schedules.
• Operate sterilizers and maintain daily checks on sterilization equipment.
• Maintain FIFO rotation of reprocessed items on shelves.

Skills

Universal precautions

Medical terminology

Sterilization principles

Reading instructions

Oral and written communication

Education

One year above high school with healthcare courses

Bachelor’s degree (4 years) in related field

Tools

CENSITRAC software

Job description

Summary

The incumbent performs all aspects of Critical and Semi-Critical Reusable Medical Devices (RMD) reprocessing including decontamination - Prep/Assembly - Sterilization - Storage and High Level Disinfection. Other duties include inspection of RMD - routine and periodic testing of equipment - documentation - MIFU compliance - and survey readiness. This position is located at the VA Healthcare System - located in Manchester New Hampshire.

Qualifications

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 must be proficient in spoken and written English
• 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
• 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: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment - the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates: GS-03 Experience or Education (Entry Level) None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-04 Experience or Education: (Developmental Level) 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 KSAs 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 04)
• 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 KSAs below: GS-06 Experience: (Full Performance Level) One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS05)
• 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 KSAs 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 instructions and procedures
• Preferred Experience: CRCST -CER OR CIS Certification
• Previous experience performing sterile processing duties in a hospital or healthcare setting - including decontamination - inspection - packaging - assembly - sterilization - storage and distribution of reusable medical devices
• Experience interpreting manufacturers' instructions for use - operating sterilization and high-level disinfection equipment - performing biological and chemical monitoring - documenting reprocessing activities - and utilizing instrument tracking systems is preferred
• 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: Work is typically performed in a clinical setting that exposes incumbent to biohazards - hazardous chemicals - and hazardous medications common in a health care environment
• Such exposure will be mitigated - in accordance with local policies and operating procedures - as per USP800 standards - OSHA guidance - and local risk assessment practices
• Standard safety precautions and PPE are required and specified per local policies
• 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 25 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 - and 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
• In the performance of official duties - the employee must be able to utilize office automation equipment - personal computers - bar code scanners - fax and copier machines and CENSITRAC software programs - and possesses the ability to apply skills to ever changing office/inventory technologies
• The employee must be proficient in utilizing the CENSITRAC and other VA automated systems.

Duties

• The Sterile Processing Medical Supply Technician will support Sterile Processing Services to ensure the safe and efficient reprocessing of reusable medical devices and surgical instrumentation
• he incumbent maintains competency in sterile processing principles and infection prevention practices while supporting patient safety and operational readiness
• The incumbent receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area and may receive noncritical equipment in the decontamination area as well
• Disassembles the RME and determines the correct cleaning method - such as but not limited to ultrasonic cleaners - mechanical washers - cart washers and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents - as determined by manufacturer instructions
• Inspects - assembles and determines the correct method and packaging for sterilization such as but not limited to steam - Sterrad - Steris - ETO - and high level disinfecting scope reprocessors
• Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment
• Duties include - but are not limited to: Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RMD in decontamination area
• Disassembles the RMD and determines the correct cleaning method - such as but not limited to: ultrasonic cleaners - mechanical washers - cart washers and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents as determined by manufactures instructions
• Inspects - prepares - assembles and determines the correct method and packaging for sterilization such as but not limited to: steam - VPRO and high-level disinfecting
• Prepare operating room case carts daily utilizing surgery schedule
• Correctly organizes reprocessed items on shelves - insuring that rotation of stock using First In- First Out (FIFO) method
• Removes soil - blood - tissue fragments - body fluids and other contaminants by wiping - soaking - rinsing and scrubbing
• Performs segments of work pertaining to the decontamination - sterilization and inspection of reusable medical devices (RMD)
• Operates equipment involved in sterilization processes
• Prepares - loads - and operates sterilizers such as steam - Steris VPRO and high-level disinfecting
• Completes segments of work pertaining to the assembly of basic sets and trays for use in the medical center
• Performs high level disinfection using Cidex OPA - or equivalent according to manufacturer guidelines
• documents and validates that chemicals are tested and meet requirements to ensure that disinfection has properly occurred
• Work Schedule: 40 Hours a week - Monday-Friday - Day Shift Hours - Tour Negotiable after Service line Orientation
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #:F07987 -F07988 -F07989 -F07990 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
• Notifications: This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status
• EDRP is not authorized
• Due to a critical staffing shortage - 38 U.S.C.
• 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement - Veterans are still encouraged to apply and will be considered
• This position is not in an Bargaining Union
• This position is covered by a Special Salary Rate
• Narrative responses to the knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 - (Notice of Personnel Action)
• The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)
• In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.