Supports direct patient care by ensuring proper reprocessing, maintenance, and storage of critical and semi-critical reusable medical equipment (RME) throughout the medical center in compliance with nation and local policy and procedure. The Medical Supply Technician (MST) for Sterile Processing is responsible for the decontamination, sterilization, and packaging of critical and semi-critical RME in accordance with manufacturer's written instructions.

Duties

The Hershel "Woody" VA Medical Center Sterile Processing Department supports direct patientcare by ensuring proper reprocessing, maintenance, and storage of critical and semi-critical reusable medical devices (RMD) throughout the medical center. The Medical Supply Technician(MST) for Sterile Processing is responsible for the decontamination, sterilization, and packaging of critical and semi-critical RMD in accordance with manufacturer's written instructions. This position offers entry level opportunities at the GS-03 level, with 6 months experience or knowledge of sterilization, to the opportunity of yearly one grade career ladder promotion to the full performance level of the position at the GS-06 level, upon satisfactory performance. Please read the duties below, and the qualification required at each grade level, in the Qualification section of the announcement.*This is not a logistics, or supply technician position. This position needs sterilization of instruments, or equipment, knowledge and/or experience. *The Medical Supply Technician (MST) possesses the knowledge of the processes for Reusable Medical Devices (RMD). As an MST, you are required to maintain current knowledge of the processes, and procedures for cleaning, disinfection, sterilization, and preparation of Reusable Medical Devices(RMD). The major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Uses insulated gloves to remove carts from sterilizers. Decontaminates, and sterilizes reusable instrumentation and devices. Assembles basic sets and surgical trays for procedures. Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. Resolves conflicts and problems dealing with the customers, constructively, and appropriately. Responsible for promoting a culture of employee safety, and hazardous waste disposal. Decontaminates, and sterilizes scissors, forceps, retractors, and surgical trays processed, and/or assembled through the Preparation and Decontamination areas of Sterile Processing Service.Removes soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids and other contaminants by wiping, soaking, rinsing, and scrubbing.Inspects packages for indications of proper sterilization, assembles basic sets, and trays used throughout the medical center, including those used in the operating room. Prepares, loads, and operates sterilizers. Disassembles the RMD and determines the correct cleaning method to utilized, such as ultrasonic cleaners, mechanical washers, cart washers and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents. Performs duties pertaining to the decontamination, 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: M-F 3pm to 1130PM Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Authorized Telework schedules: Not authorized Virtual work schedules: Not authorized FLSA: non Exempt BU Status: BU Financial Disclosure Report: NOT required Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases. 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). For More Information on Benefits: https://www.vacareers.va.gov/Benefits/EmploymentBenefitsCompetitive Federal benefits: Job security- Stability Career advancement and priority in hiring as a Federal employee Federal Retirement Survivor Benefits Military buy back toward retirement Leave Benefits: AL (13-26 days), SL (13 days), Paid Federal Holidays (11 days) , Paid Parental Leave 12 wks. FEHB lowest cost FEGLI low cost Flexible Spending accounts Pre-taxed Federal Long Term Care Insurance TSP matching 5% and Pre-tax contributions Child Care subsidy And more

Requirements

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. 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. English Language Proficiency: MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. 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. NOTE: Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or nursing assistants obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces, the U.S. Maritime Service, or hospitals under close medical and professional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to 6 months of experience. AND In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs below (KSAs must be demonstrated in resume) 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; 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 AND In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs below (KSAs must be demonstrated in resume): 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. (there is no education substitution at the GS-6 level)In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs below (KSAs must be demonstrated in resume) 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: 3 years MST experience References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/83 PART II APPENDIX G47 July 8, 2015 Physical Requirements: This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile Supply, and In other services throughout the medical facility that SPS supports. 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. Work Environment: The position may at times involve exposure to a work environment that may include intermittent excessive noise, dust, slippery or uneven walking surfaces, working around moving objects or vehicles. The incumbent may also be exposed to infective patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders; Emotional and Mental Stability: The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment.

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 Huntington VA Medical Center 1540 Spring Valley Drive Huntington, WV 25704 US
• Name: Ronald Richardson
• Phone: 410-422-6292
• Email: [email protected]