Job opening: Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)
Salary: $48 871 - 63 529 per year
Published at: Jul 31 2023
Employment Type: Full-time
This position located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), at the James A. Haley VA Hospital (JAHVAH), located in Tampa, Florida and adjacent clinics. The Medical Supply Technician assists in the sterilization, decontamination, and transportation of Reusable Medical Devices (RMD).
***(Please note: This is NOT a Supply/Purchasing/Logistics Position.)***
Duties
The Medical Supply Technician duties include, but are not limited to:
Receiving contaminated critical and semi-critical reusable medical equipment (RME) in decontamination area and may receive noncritical equipment in the decontamination area as well.
Disassembling RME and determining 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's instructions.
Inspecting, preparing, assembling and determining the correct method and packaging for sterilization (such as but not limited to Steam, V-PRO, High Level Disinfecting Reprocessing, Cidex).
Preparing operating room case carts daily utilization surgery schedule.
Removing, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids and other contaminants by wiping, soaking, rinsing and scrubbing.
Inspecting packages for indications of proper sterilization.
Assembling basic sets and trays used throughout the medical center including those used in the operating room.
Performing segments of work pertaining to the decontamination, sterilization and inspection of RME.
Completing segments of work pertaining to the assembly of basic sets and trays for use in the medical center.
Operating equipment involved in sterilization processes.
Conducting and documenting daily operational checks and recording all sterilization equipment.
Following guidance received from more experienced staff members and SPS management.
Transporting RME to and from different locations within the facility
Work Schedule: 1130 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. M-F rotating holidays or 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Requirements
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
- All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
- You may be required to serve a probationary period
- Subject to a background/security investigation
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
- Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel
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:
United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
Education and/or Experience:
Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides and 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.
English Language Proficiency: MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part.
Preferred Experience:
Those candidates previous experience in the cleansing, decontamination, preparation, packaging, sterilization and high level disinfection of reusable medical equipment.
SPS Level 1 TMS training (12 modules).
Knowledge and experience of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinics settings; universal precautions; infection control measures; sterility and High Level Disinfection (HLD) principles.
Knowledge and experience in management or reprocessing of endoscopes; orthopedic and open heart surgery instrumentation.
International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management (IAHCSMM) certification.
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).
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.
Grade Determinations:
GS-05 (Developmental Level- NOT currently being recruited for, but posted for reference.)
Experience: One year of specialized 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.
GS-06 (Full Performance Level)
Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
References: VA Handbook 5005/76, Part II, Appendix G47.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 to GS-06.
Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting, 50 lbs. and over; Heavy carrying, 45 lbs. and over; Straight pulling; Pushing heavy weight carts; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking; Standing; Kneeling; Repeated bending; Climbing, legs only; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted). Dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, inspecting, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation. Requires attention to details. Standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of packages (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds). This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply (preparation) and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus.
Environmental Factors: Outside and inside; Slippery or uneven walking surfaces; Working closely with others.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here:
http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Contacts
- Address James A Haley Veterans Hospital
13000 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33612
US
- Name: Karen McKee
- Phone: 352-548-6000 X105242
- Email: [email protected]
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