The Quality Assurance Technician serves as the monitoring specialist for all activities of Sterile Processing Service, which includes the operating room case cart management system. Monitors the process of cleaning, decontamination, sterilization, reprocessing and distribution of critical, semi-critical and non-critical reusable medical devices. The position is located in the SPS Section under the Associate Director for Patient Care Service.

Duties

Major Duties are but not limited too: Sterile Storage and Distribution: Serves as a senior expert in inventories, replenishes shortages from sterile supply, inspects for sterility integrity for instrument sets and expendable items. Adheres to and reports any non-compliance towards facility regulations regarding application and removal of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Follows up to ensure RME rotates at the appropriate intervals, communicates needs for restocking outdated supplies, and maintains stock levels of surgical supplies and equipment for wards, clinics, and the operating room Initiates assigned tasks on requests for items based on the daily schedule of needs or individual requisitions. Rounds with supervision to ensure areas have performed daily housekeeping duties to ensure environment of care is maintained. Decontamination: Coordinates the assignments given by the supervisor to receive a full range of reusable medical supplies, instruments and equipment from hospital wards, clinics and operating rooms Adheres to and reports and non-compliance facility regulations regarding application and removal of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Ensures staff decontaminates reusable items by determining the appropriate method for removing gross contamination by means of manual cleaning procedures Reviews adherence of staff in relation to disassembly, decontamination, and infection control practices of items in accordance with facility protocol Ensures staff operate automated reprocessing equipment such as the ultrasonic cleaner and washer/disinfectors in accordance with the device Instructions for Use (IFU) Assembly and Sterilization: Ensures that staff follow all device specific Instructions for Use and set forth Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) while conducting assembly and sterilization procedures. Conducts rounds to review staff adheres to facility regulations regarding application and removal of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Validates skill level of staff to ensure the efficient assembly of a wide variety of instrument trays and sets used for medical procedures including the operating room Ensures quality checks for damaged or missing items of all instruments sets and arranges for replacement, maintenance, or repair as needed. Monitors and reports biological testing for each sterilization cycle. Lead, Preceptor and Mentor Works with SPS Leadership or Educator to precept new or lower grade employees to all aspects of work performed in SPS. Participates in obtaining documentation required for competency and or education of SPS staff Oversees work and will assist management with the distribution and prioritization of workload among employees in accordance with established workflow and/or job specialization. Assists with the assignment of tasks as necessary to provide new employees with the experience and training required to obtain a full performance and advanced performance level Provides information to management officials concerning performance issues, assignment changes and task completion. Focus will on the handling of loaner trays Foster communication between the Operating Room and SPS regarding loaner tray needs Checking in and Out of Loaners in the Censtrac computer system Cleaning, disinfection, sterilization and high level disinfection of instruments and equipment Assists with stocking of needed SPS supplies Attends and participates in educational offerings for department Reports any customer concerns or issues back to the SPS supervisor Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 6:30am - 2:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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. English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. (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. c. Certification. None. 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: Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) (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. Ability to instruct staff on the correct procedures and protocols for completing assignments. 2. Skill in communicating with staff to ensure compliance with written directives, rules and regulations. 3. Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers. 4. Knowledge of sterility principles in order to instruct staff on decontamination procedures. 5. Ability to lead individuals, manage priorities, and schedule work assignments. (c) Assignment. The Lead MST works in support of the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) management team. Distributes and prioritizes workload among employees in accordance with established workflow and/or job specializations. Assures an even workflow and distribution of the workload. Revises work schedules to meet anticipated and unanticipated changes in the workload. Assigns work to staff based on experience and training needs. Monitors and reports on the status of work. Ensures SOPs and SPS mandates are followed during the performance of workflow. Reviews work in progress or spot checks work not requiring review to ensure completed work meets supervisors' instructions on such things as work sequence, procedures, methods, and deadlines. Assesses the quality and quantity of work by reviewing the cleaning, reprocessing, and distribution of technical medical equipment, material and instrumentation. Provides information to management officials concerning performance issues, assignment changes and task completion. Instructs employees on work-related activities, policies, procedures and goals. Preferred Experience: Knowledge of Reusable Medical (RMD) used in clinic setting and nursing wards Understanding of cleaning, disinfection and sterilization Knowledge of Universal Precautions and infection control principles Understanding of medical terminology Familiar with surgical instruments Mastery of computer systems as Word, Excel and Censitrac References: VA Handbook 5005/83 Part II Appendix G47, dated July 8 2015 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: Physical demands of the position include work assignments with long periods of standing, walking, pushing, lifting, bending, stretching. This position requires the ability to lift 50lbs. The incumbent may at times be required to climb up and down a step stool in the work area. Work days may be extended without notice by emergency RME requests from operating room, clinics or nursing wards.

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 VA Maryland Health Care System 10 North Greene Street Baltimore, MD 21201 US
• Name: Colin Brown
• Phone: (410) 642-2411
• Email: [email protected]