Medical Supply Technician - Sterile Processing

US Department of Veterans Affairs; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

US Department of Veterans Affairs in Salt Lake City is seeking a Medical Supply Technician (MST) in the Sterile Processing Service to support safe management and reprocessing of reusable medical devices. The role includes decontamination, inspection, assembly, packaging, and sterilization with validated procedures, under supervision.

Entry-level MST position with potential development; requires English proficiency and adherence to safety standards.

Qualifications

• Must have six months of experience or one year above high school with health care related courses.
• Equivalent combination of experience and education acceptable for entry level.
• Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
• Basic knowledge of medical terminology to assemble instrument sets.

Responsibilities

• Perform decontamination, sterilization and inspection of reusable medical equipment.
• Assemble basic instrument sets and trays for operating rooms and clinics.
• Operate sterilizers (steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO) and reprocessors.
• Prepare operating room case carts and ensure daily equipment checks.

Skills

Universal precautions

Medical terminology

Sterilization equipment

Written and oral communication

Education

Six months experience or 1 year above HS with health care courses

Equivalent combination of experience/education

Tools

Steam sterilizers

Sterrad

Steris

ETO sterilizer

High level disinfecting scope reprocessor

Job description

This Medical Supply Technician (MST) position is assigned to Sterile Processing Service (SPS) at the Salt Lake City George E. Whalen Hospital and supports safe management and reprocessing of critical and semi-critical reusable medical devices (RMD). The incumbent's primary role is to independently perform RMD decontamination, inspection, assembly, packaging, sterilization/HLD, storage, distribution, and required daily equipment/process checks within validated competencies and approved MIFU/SOP.

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: MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part.

Experience and/or Education: Must have one of the following:

• Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work; OR
• 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
• Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.

Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U. S. programs.

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 (Entry Level) Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements.

Assignment

This is an entry level MST position. MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision.

GS-04 (Developmental Level) Experience or Education: Must have one of the following:

• 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
• 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.

GS-04 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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.

Assignment

This is a developmental level MST position. 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. MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision.

GS-05 (Developmental Level) Experience or Education: Must have one of the following:

• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level; OR
• 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.

GS-05 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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.

Assignment

This is a developmental level MST position. 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. MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more complex tasks and require direct supervision on new assignments.

GS-06 (Full Performance Level) Experience: Must have one year of experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level.

GS-06 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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.

Assignment

This is the full performance level for the occupation. 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.

Preferred Experience: 1 year of sterile processing experience; VA Sterile Processing certification (Level 2) or HSPA (formerly IAHCSMM) or CBSPD certification.

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 6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS 3 to GS 6.

Physical Requirements

Work is performed in decontamination, preparation/packaging, sterilization/HLD, sterile storage, distribution, and other clinical support areas. Work may require prolonged standing/walking, bending, lifting/handling packages and equipment, PPE, dexterity/visual acuity, and exposure to contaminated devices, sharps, chemicals, heat, humidity, and noise. Existing occupational health and safety requirements remain applicable.