Medical Supply Technician - Sterile Processing Advanced

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Wilkes-Barre (Luzerne County); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Parental leave

Retirement benefits

Federal health/vision/dental insurance

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking an Advanced Medical Supply Technician to perform decontamination, high-level disinfection, and sterilization of reusable medical devices, while providing distribution support for the medical center.

The role includes assembling highly complex instrument sets such as for open heart, major orthopedic joint, cardiovascular, craniotomy, and endoscopic instrumentation.

Qualifications

• Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work
• One year above high school with health care related courses such as sterile processing, nursing assistant, operating room and surgical technician courses or related education/experience

Responsibilities

• Decontaminate, prepare, and sterilize highly complex surgical equipment (open heart, ortho, cardiovascular, etc).
• Troubleshoot reprocessing equipment and initiate service calls when needed
• Assist Department leadership with SOPs and competencies
• Receive contaminated RMD in decontamination area and prepare for sterilization

Job description

Summary

Advanced Medical Supply Technician for Veterans Health Administration; in this position the incumbent will provide decontamination - preparation - high-level disinfection - and sterilization of Reusable Medical Devices (RMD - in addition to distribution support for the medical center. The Advanced MST assembles highly complex instrument sets including - but not limited to: open heart - major orthopedic total joint - cardiovascular - craniotomy and complex endoscopic instrumentation.

Summary

Advanced Medical Supply Technician for Veterans Health Administration; in this position the incumbent will provide decontamination - preparation - high-level disinfection - and sterilization of Reusable Medical Devices (RMD - in addition to distribution support for the medical center. The Advanced MST assembles highly complex instrument sets including - but not limited to: open heart - major orthopedic total joint - cardiovascular - craniotomy and complex endoscopic instrumentation.

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.) 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-07 (Advanced 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: Detailed knowledge of complex surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings
• Ability to assemble specialty operating room and clinic instrument sets
• In-depth knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing in order to convey information and thoughts to others
• Assignment - The Advanced MST assembles highly complex instrument sets including - but not limited to - open heart - major orthopedic total joint - cardiovascular - craniotomy and complex endoscopic instrumentation
• Processes all complex endoscopic instrumentation to include those medical devices used in the gastroenterology laboratory - bronchoscopy laboratory - urology and operating room
• Reviews manufacturer guidelines to ensure the correct methods and parameters are followed when cleaning - decontaminating and sterilizing RME
• Troubleshoots and analyzes mechanical failures and makes necessary adjustments to complex decontamination and sterilization equipment - as well as interprets alarm conditions which may occur while operating the equipment
• Informs management and healthcare staff when cleaning and processing standard operating procedures (SOPs) or instruction for use have been changed or updated to assure the changes have been validated to meet all guidelines
• Preferred Experience: Experience in the reprocessing of advanced operating room reusable medical devices to include robotic instruments and all endoscopic instruments
• HSPA or CBSPD certified preferred
• ALL INTERNAL EMPLOYEES MUST SUBMIT A RECENT SF-50 FOR CONSIDERATION! 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-07
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 only
• 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 (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds)
• The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating - disassembly and assembly of instrumentation
• 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

• Uses expertise and technical competence to decontaminate - prepare - and sterilize or high level disinfect highly complex surgical equipment including - but not limited to major orthopedic total joint - cardiovascular - neurologic - Da Vinci robotic systems - and complex endoscopic instrumentation
• Troubleshoots all reprocessing equipment using manufacturers guidance to resolve equipment malfunction
• If unable to resolve will initiate service call through Biomedical department or the manufacturer of the equipment
• Assists Department leadership in process improvement to include Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) and accompanying Competencies
• Assists Trainer in training/mentoring lower-level MSTs to increase their abilities and competency levels
• Will aid in decontaminating - preparing - sterilizing - and delivering lessor complicated instrumentation whenever the need arises or directed by Departmental Leadership
• Will be proficient in the use of the Censi-Trac system - keeping up to date records within the system - to include setlists - biological - sterilization - and workflow records
• The Advanced MST assembles highly complex instrument sets including - but not limited to open heart - major orthopedic total joint - cardiovascular - craniotomy and complex endoscopic instrumentation
• Processes all complex endoscopic instrumentation to include those medical devices used in the gastroenterology laboratory - bronchoscopy laboratory - urology - and operating room
• Reviews manufacturer guidelines to ensure the correct methods and parameters are followed when cleaning - decontaminating and sterilizing RMD
• Troubleshoots and analyzes mechanical failures and makes necessary adjustments to complex decontamination and sterilization equipment - as well as interprets alarm conditions which may occur while operating the equipment
• Informs management and healthcare staff when cleaning and processing standard operating procedures (SOPs) or instruction for use have been changed or updated to assure the changes have been validated to meet all guidelines
• Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RMD in decontamination area and may receive non-critical equipment in the decontamination area as well
• Disassembles the RMD 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 manufactures instructions
• Inspects - prepares - assembles and determines the correct method and packaging for sterilization such as but not limited to Steam - Sterrad - and high-level disinfecting reprocessers
• Removes soil - blood - tissue fragments - body fluids and other contaminants by wiping - soaking - rinsing and scrubbing
• Inspects packages for indications of proper sterilization - assembles highly complex and basic trays used throughout the medical center including those used in the operating room
• Performs segments of work pertaining to the decontamination - preparation - sterilization and inspection of RMD
• Operates equipment involved in sterilization processes
• Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment
• Work Schedule: 6:30am to 3:00pm - Monday thru Friday 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
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized