This is a Medical Supply Technician (MST) position for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) in the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) of Sheridan Wyoming Health Care System located in Sheridan Wyoming.

Duties

Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical reusable medical devices (RMD) in the decontamination area and may receive non-critical equipment as well. Disassembles the RMD and determines the correct cleaning method, such as, but not limited to, ultrasonic cleaners, mechanical washer/disinfectors and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents, as determined by manufacturer's instructions. Inspects, assembles and determines the correct method and packaging for sterilization. Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all processes and equipment. -Reusable Medical Devices (RMD) is any medical device designed by the manufacture to be reused for multiple patients. All personnel who are involved in the reprocessing of RMD's 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 RMD 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, personal 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 RMD are responsible for following the local Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) drafted in accordance with the manufactures written recommendations. Sterile Processing and Infection Prevention Control should be consulted when clarification of written instructions is needed. No one should be reprocessing any reusable medical devices based upon vendors verbal instructions alone; this is not an adequate practice. All personnel that are in any way involved in reprocessing of RMD 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 RMD can suspend the use of any RMD if they suspect that the device was not properly cleaned, disinfected or sterilized according to the SOP and manufactures guidelines. Single use (disposable) medical devices will not be reused or re-sterilized. All personnel must have an understanding of the importance of RMD and the significant impact on our Veteran population through risk of infectious disease. The employee is under the supervision of the Chief, Sterile Processing Services. The service Chief will assign work with standing instructions. The employee will work as a team member with other MST's of various experiences to carry out the daily work utilizing the written standard operating procedures and/or manufacturers written instructions for use in accordance with instructions, policies, previous training, or accepted/standard practices. The Chief evaluates completed work for overall technical soundness and conformance to agency policies through competency assessment utilization simulation, direct observation and verbal response from the incumbent. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. Compressed/Flexible:Compressed Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 58074-O, 58075-O, 58076-O, 58077-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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 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. OR 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. Certification None Grandfathering Provision All Medical Supply Technologists-MSTs that are employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard (July 8, 2015) 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. Grade Determinations GS-03 Experience or Education None beyond the basic requirements. GS-04 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)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. GS-05 Experience One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-04). 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 (KSAs)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. GS-06 Experience One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05). 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. 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: This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply (preparation) and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility. The employee is subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries from material handling equipment. Frequent bending and lifting of packages (occasionally weighting as much as 50 pounds). The work requires dexterity, visual and auditory acuity for manipulating, disassembling and assembling instrumentation. On a regular and reoccurring 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 employee often works around body fluids, mucus, excretions, and bits of tissue, some of which may be foul smelling. Strong unpleasant orders are encountered while decontaminating bloody or grossly contaminated instrumentation or reusable medical devices. The work is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts and operation of pre sterilization 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 Sheridan VA Medical Center 1898 Fort Road Sheridan, WY 82801 US
• Name: Maria Romero
• Phone: 970-263-5098
• Email: [email protected]