Medical Supply Technician - Sterile Processing

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Salem (VA); On-site; USD 41,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Salem VA Medical Center is seeking a Medical Supply Technician to support the Sterile Processing Service, ensuring surgical instruments and reusable equipment are cleaned, sterilized, assembled, and delivered where needed for Veterans' care.

Applicants may be referred while educational or licensure requirements are pending; must meet VA standards for citizenship and English proficiency. Experience with RME decontamination and various sterilization methods is preferred.

Qualifications

• One year of experience at next lower grade GS-5 (or equivalent) in processing RMEs.
• Experience with contaminated critical and semi-critical RME decontamination and sterilization methods.
• Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.
• Knowledge of sterilization methods (steam, Sterrad, Steris) and high-level disinfection.

Responsibilities

• Clean, assemble, sterilize, and deliver surgical instruments and reusable medical equipment.
• Operate decontamination and sterilization equipment per manufacturer instructions.
• Maintain safety and infection control through universal precautions.

Skills

Knowledge of surgical instruments

Universal precautions

Medical terminology

Anatomy and physiology

Reading and interpreting instructions

Job description

Salem VA Medical Center is excited to announce an opportunity to join our Sterile Processing Service as a Medical Supply Technician. This vital role supports safe, high-quality care for our Veterans by ensuring surgical instruments and reusable medical equipment are expertly cleaned, assembled, sterilized, and delivered where they're needed most. We're looking for motivated individuals ready to contribute to a mission-driven team that plays a critical part in every patient experience.

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:Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by VA Regulations.

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-06 (Full Performance Level)

Experience

One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade leve (GS-5). Specialized experience may include: Experience with contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area. Ability to 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, and high level disinfecting scope reprocessors.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate 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 regards 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/.

Physical Requirements

This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile Supply, and in other services throughout the medical facility that SPS supports. The candidate 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.