Medical Supply Technician - Sterile Processing

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Wilkes-Barre (Luzerne County); On-site; USD 36,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The Veterans Health Administration at Wilkes-Barre VAMC in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania is seeking an entry-level Medical Supply Technician for the Sterile Processing Service. The role includes cleaning, decontamination, inspection, preparation, assembly, disinfection and sterilization of critical and semi-critical reusable medical devices for patient care.

Applicants may qualify under grandfathering provisions or the education/experience options described in the qualification standard; KSAs cover

Qualifications

• Six months of experience demonstrating ability to perform the work or understanding of sterile processing.
• One year above high school including courses in health care related topics such as sterile processing, nursing assistant, OR tech, or surgical tech.
• Equivalent combination of experience and education may qualify for entry level.

Responsibilities

• Provide manual cleaning, decontamination, inspection, preparation, assembly, disinfection, sterilization and transport of reusable medical devices to end users.

Skills

Sterile processing

Decontamination

Sterilization

Medical terminology

Cross-contamination precautions

Communication (oral/written)

Education

6 months experience OR 1 year education above high school

12 semester hours in healthcare courses

Job description

This position is for a Medical Supply Technician in Sterile Processing Service (SPS), for Veterans Health Administration at Wilkes-Barre VAMC located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. This is an entry level position for the occupation. In this position, the incumbent will provide manual cleaning, decontamination, inspection, preparation, assembly, disinfection, sterilization and transport to end user of critical and semi-critical Reusable Medical Devices in support of Medical Center operations.

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.
• 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.
• Certification. None.
• Grandfathering Provision. All MSTs that are employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
  • Employees grandfathered into the GS-622 occupational series as MSTs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation.
  • MSTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
  • MSTs who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. e. 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. f. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. g. English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part.

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.
• GS-04 (Developmental Level)
  • Experience - 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-
  • Education - 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.
  • Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities - In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below:
    • 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.
• GS-05 (Developmental Level)
  • Experience - One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level; 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.
  • Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities - In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following 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.
• GS-06 (Full Performance Level)
  • Experience - One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
  • 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.
  • Assignment - This is the full performance level for the occupation.

Preferred Experience

None

Reference

https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 level to GS-06 level.

Physical Requirements

This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply (preparation) and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus. The incumbent 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. The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation.