This is a Medical Supply Technician position within the VA Augusta Health Care System (VAAHCS).

Duties

The Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) will perform transporter duties, including operation of large vehicles and case carts across all VA Augusta Health Care System (VAAHCS), to include the Uptown and Downtown division, Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), and/or other medical facilities that conduct business with the VAAHCS. The incumbent will perform segments of work pertaining to the decontamination, sterilization, distribution, and inspection of Reusable Medical Devices (RMD) and will work as a team member with other Medical Supply Technicians of various experience to carry out the daily work utilizing the written Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and/or the Manufacturer's Instructions For Use (MIFU). This is a full performance level position with duties that will include but are not limited to: Clean, decontaminate, and reprocess flexible and rigid endoscopes according to the MIFU. Disassemble instruments and equipment, remove gross contamination, manually wash, and decontaminate instruments according to the MIFU. Inspect instruments in the preparation area, assemble trays and reprocess RMDs according to the MIFU and deliver reprocessed RMDs to the appropriate service. Clean, visually inspect, and leak test all flexible endoscopes using the correct method of reprocessing (HLD, Steam Sterilize, or Sterrad). Determine appropriate method of cleaning, decontamination, and sterilization of critical and semi-critical RMDs to prevent cross-contamination while avoiding damage to the equipment. Document items utilizing chemical disinfecting agents and check/document efficacy of solution. Monitor expiration dates of endoscopes and pull scopes that are expiring for reprocessing. Prepare surgical case carts and notify Lead and/or Supervisor of any missing items. Advise medical personnel on proper use of equipment; demonstrate knowledge of and adhere to all SPS policies/procedures/SOPs during performance of duties. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, varied tours Functional Statement #: 54359F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

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. NOTE: This only applies to past, current, and upcoming VA Health Professional Trainees (HPT). An HPT is an individual appointed to temporary positions in one or more VA medical facilities performing clinical or research training experiences to satisfy program or degree requirements or receiving VA Health Professional Scholarship Program. HPTs can be either VA-paid or Without Compensation (WOC). Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: All applicants must be current U.S. Citizens. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: All applicants must be proficient in written and spoken English. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Experience and Education: Experience: Six (6) months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work; OR Education: One (1) 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. 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. Grandfathering Provision: Current Medical Supply Technicians (MSTs) hired at the VHA on or before 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. For those who do not meet all the basic requirements but domet the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees grandfathered into the GS-0622 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. 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. 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. GS-6 Specialized Experience: One (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-5 performing sterile processing for surgical and clinical instruments such as removing soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other containments by wiping, soaking, rinsing, and scrubbing, inspecting packages for indications of proper sterilization, assembling basic sets and trays including those used in the operating room, preparing, loading and operating sterilizers such as steam, Sterrad Steris, ETO and high level disinfecting scope reprocessors, and preparing operating room case carts. GS-6 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the specialized experience listed above, all candidates must also 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 regard to instrumentation. Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures. Driver's License Requirement: The incumbent must have a current, valid driver's license. This position requires occasional travel away from the primary duty station to nearby Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) during periods of required coverage. In addition, this position may be selected to attend VHA sponsored educational training or certification courses. Incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a valid driver's license to operate a government vehicle. Physical Requirement: 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 lit. The incumbent 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 equipment weighing up to 50 lbs. The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation. Frequent pushing, and/or pulling equipment including, but not limited to case carts full of instruments, sterilizer racks, and similar equipment. On a regular and recurring basis, the incumbent may alternate between a contaminated environment and a carefully controlled clean environment. The incumbent will wear special clothing, hair covers, personal protective equipment and shoe covers that can be uncomfortably warm. The incumbent will use insulated gloves to remove carts from sterilizers. The incumbent may be subject to burns from accidentally touching hot items. The hazards of working around minute quantities of sterilizing gasses are unknown. The incumbent will often work 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 device. The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts and operation of pre-sterilizing equipment. References: VA Handbook 5005/76, Appendix II-G47.

Education

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

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 educational accreditation at this link.

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. Please review this link for additional information.

Contacts

• Address Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center One Freedom Way Augusta, GA 30901 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]