The incumbent serves as Advanced Medical Supply Technician (MST) in Sterile Processing Service (SPS) at the Cincinnati, OH VA. SPS provides support to the Medical Center and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). The incumbent functions as a sterile processing technician performing a wide variety of duties, including the various cleaning, decontamination and sterilization processes associated Reusable Medical Equipment (RME), which includes medical and surgical instruments reprocessing.

Duties

The duties of this position include: 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. Specific duties to include but not limited to: 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 reusable medical equipment (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. In this position, the employee will provide decontamination, preparation, sterilization, and distribution support of critical and semi-critical reusable medical equipment for the medical center. The term reusable medical equipment as used in this functional statement refers to reusable items for patient care including basic instrumentation, equipment, instrument trays/sets, and various other items that could be processed or assembled through the decontamination and preparation areas of the Sterile Processing Service. The MST will have advanced knowledge of the processes for reusable medical equipment (RME) as required by this position. The MST will be required to learn, and maintain current knowledge of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) which document the processes and procedures for cleaning, disinfection, preparation, and sterilization of RME appropriate to this position. The MST will demonstrate their ability to follow the directions of a written procedure in the processing of RME appropriate to this position. Complete training coursework and VA SPS certification as required for a MST position in the VA. Maintain certification by completing approved, annual Continuing Education Units (CEU) and annual in-service hours. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 92038-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

Requirements

Qualifications

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. (1) Experience. Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work; OR, (2) 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, (3) 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. 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). (a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-6. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Detailed knowledge of complex surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings. 2. Ability to assemble specialty operating room and clinic instrument sets. 3. In-depth knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment. 4. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing in order to convey information and thoughts to others. References: VA Handbook 5005/83, Part II, Appendix G47. 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 incumbent usually stands and moves from one part of the room to another in performance of assigned duties and is also required to travel throughout the medical center observing the processes in place in different services. Incumbent will be required to lift 50 pounds with repeated bending and twisting. 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.

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 Cincinnati VA Medical Center 3200 Vine Street Cincinnati, OH 45220 US
• Name: Amanda Flores
• Email: [email protected]