This Medical Supply Technician position is located at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in Hines, IL and is part of the VA's Great Lakes Health Care System (VISN 12). The Medical Supply Technician's primary function is responsible for sterile processing and/or high-level disinfectants of critical and semi-critical reusable medical equipment, maintaining quality assurance with all reprocessing equipment, instrumentation, scopes, and high-level disinfectors.

Duties

The incumbent will provide sterilization, preparation, supply items and reusable medical equipment decontamination and distribution support for the medical center. The term "supply item" refers to disposable and reusable items for patient care including instrumentation (scissors, forceps, retractors, etc.), reusable medical, surgical trays and sets and various other items that could be processed or assembled through the Preparation and Decontamination areas of Sterile Processing Service. Major duties of the position include, but are not limited to, the following: Removes soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids and other contaminants by wiping, soaking, rinsing and scrubbing under the guidance. Operates equipment involved in the cleaning, disinfection and sterilization processes. Disassembles the reusable medical equipment (RME) and determines the correct cleaning method. 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 such as steam, gas plasma, and a high-level disinfecting process. Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all processes and equipment. Additional duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full-time, 40hrs per week; tours of duty to include 0700-1530, 1000-1830, 1500-2330, 2300-0730 (TBD) Compressed/Flexible:N/A Telework: N/A Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Note: This Announcement may be used to fill current and future vacancies.

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. Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-06 (a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings. 2. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination. 3. Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures. 4. Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation. 5. Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures. (c) Assignment. This is the full performance level for the occupation. Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area and may receive noncritical equipment in the decontamination area as well. Disassembles the RME and determines 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 instructions. Inspects, assembles and determines the correct method and packaging for sterilization such as but not limited to steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO, and high level disinfecting scope reprocessors. Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment. 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. English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. 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. Preferred Experience: 2 -3 years SPS and Endoscope experience. 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: (1) 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. (2) 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. (3) 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. Physical Requirements: This work is performed in various settings, the incumbent may be required to work in areas that are hot, cold, drafty and poorly lighted, requires standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of packages (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds). The employee is subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries from material handling equipment. The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/83 PART II APPENDIX G47.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

A copy of your SPS Certification must be submitted with you application.

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 Edward Hines Junior Hospital 5000 South 5th Avenue Hines, IL 60141 US
• Name: Torenzo Davis
• Phone: 708-940-1828
• Email: [email protected]