Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, FL seeks a Medical Supply Technician (MST) in the Sterile Processing service to support decontamination, sterilization, and transportation of reusable medical devices.

You will disassemble, clean, inspect, and repackage instruments, operate sterilization equipment, and document daily checks while following universal precautions. Typical schedule is Mon–Fri 3:30 pm–12:00 am; federal benefits apply, and you will join a team ensuring patient safety

Qualifications

• Six months of experience demonstrating the ability to perform the work.
• One year above high school with health care-related courses.
• Knowledge of KSAs for MST responsibilities.
• English proficiency as required by VA Handbook.

Responsibilities

• Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in decontamination area.
• Disassembles RME and determines cleaning methods per instructions.
• Inspects, assembles and packages for sterilization (steam, Sterrad, etc.).
• Removes soil, body fluids and contaminants using PPE to prevent cross contamination.
• Inspects packages for indications of proper sterilization.
• Assembles instrument sets and trays used in the medical center.
• Performs daily operational checks for sterilization equipment.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 3:30pm-12:00am; competitive salary with regular increases.

Skills

Surgical instruments knowledge

Universal precautions

Medical terminology knowledge

English language proficiency

Education

One year above high school health care courses

Six months of healthcare-related experience

Tools

Sterilization equipment knowledge

PPE usage and safety procedures

Job description

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) - Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - at the James A. Haley VA Hospital (JAHVAH) in Tampa - Florida - and at adjacent clinics. The Medical Supply Technician within the Sterile Processing service assists in the sterilization - decontamination - and transportation of Reusable Medical Devices (RMD).

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

• Citizenship


• Citizen of the United States


• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section A - paragraph 3g.) 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)


• English Language Proficiency


• MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j - Experience and/or EducationExperience


• 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


• Certification


• None


• Creditable Experience Knowledge of Current MST Practices


• To be creditable - the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge - skills - and abilities (KSAs) associated with MST responsibilities


• Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non-paid employment as a MST


• 3 Quality of Experience


• Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to MST experience at the next lower grade level of the position being filled


• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher level duties must consist of significant scope - administrative independence - complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time


• Part-Time Experience


• Part-time experience as a MST is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek


• For example - a MST employed 20 hours a week - or on a 1/2-time basis - would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service


• GRADE REQUIREMENTSGS-06 (Full Performance Level) (a) Experience


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


• (b) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities


• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1


• Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings


• 2


• Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination


• 3


• Working knowledge of medical terminology - anatomy and physiology - microbiology - medical conditions and procedures


• 4


• Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation


• 5


• Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures


• Preferred Experience Selective Placement Factor Quality Ranking Factor (c) 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


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

Duties

• This is a full-performance-level MST position


• Some of the duties include - but are not limited to: Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in decontamination area


• Disassembles 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 method and packaging for sterilization such as but not limited to steam - plasma - hydrogen peroxide and high-level disinfection


• Removes soil - blood - tissue fragments - body fluids and other contaminants by wiping - soaking - rinsing and scrubbing using the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to avoid any cross contamination


• Inspects packages for indications of proper sterilization


• Assembles basic and specialty instrument sets and trays used throughout the medical center including those used in the operating room


• Performs segments of work pertaining to the decontamination - sterilization and inspection of reusable medical equipment (RME)


• Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment


• Other duties as assigned


• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 3:30pm to 12:00am Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases


• 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 #: 20815F Medical Supply Aide and Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Supply-Aide-Career-Flyer.pdfTotal-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf