Medical Supply Technician - Sterile Processing

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Salem (VA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Job summary

Salem VA Medical Center is seeking a Medical Supply Technician to join our Sterile Processing Service. This vital role ensures surgical instruments and reusable medical equipment are cleaned, assembled, sterilized, and delivered where they are needed most.

You will work as part of a mission-driven team that supports safe, high-quality care for Veterans, performing decontamination, packaging, and preparation of sterilized items for use in operating rooms and clinics.

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship required; English language proficiency; ability to meet VA qualification standard.
• Experience with contaminated critical and semi-critical reusable medical equipment (RME) in decontamination.
• Knowledge of sterilization methods and safety procedures; ability to read instructions.
• Knowledge of surgical instruments, cross-contamination prevention, and medical terminology.

Responsibilities

• Receives contaminated RME in decontamination area.
• Disassembles RME and selects cleaning method per manufacturers' instructions.
• Inspects, prepares, and packages items for sterilization (steam, low-temp, high-level disinfection).
• Performs removal of debris and documents cleaning processes.
• Transports and stores sterilized items and maintains PAR levels.

Job description

Summary

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.

Summary

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.

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: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
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: 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.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical reusable medical equipment (RME) in decontamination area
• 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 manufacturers' instructions
• Inspects - prepares - assembles - and determines the correct packaging and method of sterilization - to include but not limited to the following: steam - low temperature sterilization - and high-level disinfection
• Manually removes debris - soil - blood - tissue fragments - body fluids - and other contaminants by wiping - soaking - rinsing - brushing - flushing - and scrubbing
• Performs quality audits on critical and semi-critical RME for indications of proper cleaning - assembly - and sterilization
• Assembles RME sets and trays used throughout the facility - including those used in the operating room and clinics
• Operates equipment in all areas of sterile processing
• Performs and documents daily operational checks on all sterilization and decontamination equipment
• Demonstrates appropriate knowledge and skill in assembly of trays and peel packs - to include identification of contents - internal chemical indicators - lot control numbers - wrapping - labeling and methods of sterilization
• Monitors and documents all required information for each sterilization and disinfection load and sterilizer
• Participates in the department Quality Improvement Plan - as needed
• Quality Improvement responsibilities include but are not limited to - biological spore testing - efficacy testing - and documenting results of all sterilization and high-level disinfection methods and testing
• Appropriately handles and transports all sterilized items when placing them in storage and identifies any breaks in the integrity of the package
• Re-stocks shelves in sterile storage and other areas to maintain defined PAR levels of all supplies - instrument trays - and other items maintained in inventory
• Uses proper procedure to assemble case carts according to surgical schedule and procedure specific preference cards
• Transports clean and soiled case carts between procedural areas and Sterile Processing
• Transports additional instrumentation as needed
• Maintains cleanliness and appropriate supply levels at workstations in all areas of department
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 3:15 pm-12:00 am (occasional call) 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 Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized