Medical Supply Technician - Sterile Processing

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Salem (VA); Presencial; USD 52 000 - 68 000; Tempo integral

Resumo da oferta

The Salem VA Medical Center in Salem, Virginia is seeking a Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) to support the Sterile Processing Service. The role involves reprocessing and storing reusable medical equipment (RME) and working with other MSTs in a busy hospital environment.

Candidates should have experience with cleaning, disinfection, packaging, and sterilization methods such as steam, Sterrad, and Steris.

Qualificações

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Six months of healthcare-related experience or education.
• One year of health-care related study above high school or equivalent
• May qualify under VA grandfathering provisions for current employees

Responsabilidades

• Receives contaminated reusable medical equipment (RME) in decontamination area.
• Disassembles RME and selects the appropriate cleaning method.
• Inspects, prepares, assembles, and determines sterilization method (steam, low temp, or high-level disinfection).
• Removes debris and contaminants by cleaning, soaking, rinsing, brushing, and scrubbing.
• Performs quality audits on RME for cleaning, assembly, and sterilization.
• Assembles RME sets and trays for operating rooms and clinics.
• Operates equipment in all areas of sterile processing.
• Documents daily checks on sterilization and decontamination equipment.
• Maintains cleanliness and PAR levels in sterile storage and related areas.
• Transports case carts between procedural areas and Sterile Processing.

Conhecimentos

Sterile technique

Infection control

Attention to detail

Interpersonal skills

Formação académica

High school graduate with healthcare courses

Equivalent work experience + education

Ferramentas

Steam sterilizers

Sterrad sterilizers

Steris sterilizers

ETO sterilizers

Descrição da oferta de emprego

Summary

This is a Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) position in the Sterile Processing Service of the Salem VA Medical Center in Salem - Virginia. If you have experience reprocessing and storing Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) and enjoy working with other MSTs - we would love to hear from you. (This is an instrument cleaning/sterilization position - not a supply ordering position).

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
• 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)
• GS-06: (Full Performance Level): Experience Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - do you possess one: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5) but 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• 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: 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 The GS-0622-6 Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) performs full-performance sterile processing duties involving the decontamination - assembly - sterilization - storage - and distribution of reusable medical devices and surgical instrumentation
• Applies knowledge of infection control - sterilization methods - medical terminology - and instrument tracking systems to ensure the safe and effective support of patient care
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 1:00pm - 9:45pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Autorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Autorized 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)
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Autorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Autorized