The VA Southern Arizona Healthcare Network is recruiting for a Medical Supply Technician assigned to Sterile Processing service (SPS).
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. Education/Experience: (1) 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 an MST. (2) 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. Functional Statement Southern Arizona VA Health Care System Sterile Processing Service Medical Supply Technician GS-0622-06 (3) Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as an MST is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, an MST employed 20 hours a week, or on a ½ time basis would receive 1 full-time workweek for 2 weeks of service. One-year experience 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 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-06 (Full Performance Level) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5). To be creditable, experience must have demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with Medical Supply Technician. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). 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. Preferred Experience: Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) experience 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-06. Physical Requirements: The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday with frequent bending and lifting of sterile packages and containers averaging 25 lbs. before and after sterilization or high-level disinfection. The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulation, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation. Physical demands include bending, twisting, stooping, extending arms, lifting of heavy objects such as instrument trays to and from shelf heights ranging from 8 inches above floor level up 18 inches below ceiling height. Use of a safety step stool or safety step ladder is required to reach work area and equipment surfaces higher than what the employee can reach unaided (i.e., standing on the floor). Pushing and pulling of loaded sterilizer carts, transport carts, and surgical case carts is required. The incumbent must be able to tolerate standing for prolonged periods of time, wearing impervious personal protective equipment (PPE), and higher ambient temperatures in the presence of heat-generating equipment. The incumbent must be able to tolerate ambient noise from reprocessing equipment and activities, and odors from contaminated RME and reprocessing agents. On a regular basis the employee alternates between the clean, controlled environment of the preparation, sterilization, high-level disinfection, and sterile storage areas and the contaminated environment of the decontamination area. The incumbent must comply with attire and PPE requirements to protect RME undergoing preparation, high-level disinfection, or sterilization from contaminants, and to protect oneself from biohazards such as blood, body fluids, and tissues. The incumbent must also comply with PPE requirements or other controls designed for protection against hot surfaces and chemical agents used during cleaning, decontamination, high-level disinfection, and sterilization.
The major duties and responsibilities of Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) includes but are not limited to: Complete Sterile Processing Service (SPS) Level 1 training within 90 days of hire. Participate in continuing education (i.e., computer based training and in-service education sessions) to maintain SPS Level 1 certification. Maintain knowledge of the department's Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which document the processes and procedures for the cleaning, decontamination, preparation, high-level disinfection, sterilization, and storage of the RME appropriate to this position. Maintain competency in all reprocessing activities. Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical reusable medical equipment (RME) in the decontamination area, and may receive noncritical equipment as well. Disassembles the RME and determines the correct cleaning method, such as, but not limited to, ultrasonic cleaners, mechanical washers/disinfectors, 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, and high-level disinfecting scope reprocessors. Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all processes and equipment. Reusable Medical Equipment: Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) is any medical equipment designed by the manufacturer to be reused for multiple patients. All personnel who are involved in the reprocessing of RME are responsible for knowing what reusable instruments, equipment, medical devices or supplies are used (inventory) in their clinical area. All personnel who are involved with the use of RME must be familiar with which items are reprocessed locally (on unit) and/or which items are sent to Sterile Processing for reprocessing and/or sterilization. If items are transported for reprocessing, personnel must be aware of the individual decontamination steps that must be taken prior to transport of item and the appropriate method of transport. All personnel who are involved in reprocessing of RME are responsible for following the local Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) drafted in accordance with the manufacturer's written recommendations. Sterile Processing and Infection Control should be consulted when clarification of written instructions is needed. No one should be reprocessing any reusable medical equipment based upon vendor's verbal instructions alone; this is not an adequate practice. All personnel that are in any way involved in the reprocessing of RME must have documented training in the setup, reprocessing and maintenance of specific equipment. Validation of competency will be done according to national policy guidelines. All personnel that have the responsibility of reprocessing reusable medical equipment can suspend the reuse of any RME if they suspect that the device was not properly cleaned, disinfected or sterilized according to the SOP and manufacturer's guidelines. Single-use (disposable) medical devices will not be reused or re-sterilized. All personnel must have an understanding of the importance of RME and the significant impact on our Veteran population through the risk of infectious disease. Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 7:00am - 3:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized