The Medical Supply Technician in Sterile Processing 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 the machines, scopes and high-level disinfectors. The Quality Assurance (QA) Technician serves as the monitoring specialist for all activities of SPS, which includes the operating room case cart management system.

Duties

Rotates among the various medical supply operation assignments in a medical and surgical environment requiring a complete range of medical supplies, instruments and equipment. Cleans, packages, assembles, sterilizes, and distributes supply items used for patient care in the medical center, wards, operating rooms, laboratories, and clinics. Duties fall within distinct areas: Equipment Operation: Operates an ultrasonic cleaner, washer/sterilizer, dryer, cart washer, steam sterilizers, gas sterilizer and aerator. Decontamination: Collects contaminated supplies and portable equipment from wards, operating rooms, laboratories, and clinics of the hospital according to schedule. Receives, disassembles and inspects for damage reusable medical supplies, instruments and equipment. Determines correct method for pre-­sterilizing. Removes soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids and other gross contaminants by wiping, soaking, rinsing, scrubbing and use of appropriate decontamination equipment. Loads and operates pre­-sterilizers. Reassembles medical equipment, including such complex equipment as cell centrifuges, which require skilled, careful positioning of parts and the complete elimination of dust particles or lint from the chambers. Removes items from pre- . sterilizers and determines type of tray or set to assemble based on recognition of key items and the oneratinl: 1: room and clinic schedules been removed. Assembles sets and trays by selecting appropriate tray, lining it with a towel, and arranging instruments in the tray in the correct manner, e.g., hinged instruments in open position, ring-handled instruments on a spreader, heavy instruments on the bottom, delicate items pre- wrapped to prevent damage, blades and points properly covered. Strives for a compact, logically arranged package that will permit effective penetration of the sterilizing medium. Places devices in the tray, selects correct wrapping for the tray, and wraps and labels it. Selects correct sterilizing medium and cycles, and operates sterilizer. Aerates gas-sterilized items for correct period of time, Periodically monitors operation of sterilizer with prescribed tests. In emergencies, uses less than optimum techniques such as flash sterilizing or faster heat techniques which might tend to deteriorate the piece of equipment. Equipment and Tray Assembly and Packaging: Inspects the condition of operating room trays, instruments and needles for cleanliness and damage and replaces them as required. Assembles, wraps, dates, initials, and labels trays. Assembles and stocks all equipment for stations and case carts. Receives used and contaminated equipment such as bed frames, mattresses, and vacuum pumps. Disassembles equipment, removes gross contamination from the component parts, reassembles the equipment, and checks its functioning. Determines appropriate method for cleaning and sterilizing the equipment, operates sterilizers, and stores and issues the equipment. Advises medical personnel on the proper use of the equipment and on problems that arise in connection with its use. In addition: Receives periodic training in such areas as the use and functioning of new medical supplies, instruments, and equipment; new or improved sterilization practices; and developments in microbiology, bacteriology, and therapeutic practices as they affect the sterile supply operation. Periodically inventories medical supplies and equipment, keeping records and determining reordering needs. Removes outdated material from shelves for re-sterilization. Provides training and orientation to medical personnel on sterile supply techniques and procedures. Supply/Distribution: Receives sterilized trays, sets. and equipment from the sterilizer, checks for effectiveness of sterilization ( color change on marker tapes, dampness of the packages), tags sterilized material indicating date of sterilization and expiration date, and stocks shelves with sterilized material. Assembles and loads ward and operating room carts according to schedules, and fills special and emergency request for supplies; Advises medical personnel on availability of supplies, possible substitutes, and effective use of equipment. Restock supply closets and carts located in the wards, operating rooms, laboratories, clinics, and storerooms. The supply closets and carts are inventoried daily and replenished with supplies and equipment. Distributes supplies and equipment based upon special requests and requisition tickets. Performs other related duties as assigned. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Work Schedule: 07:00am - 3:30pm, MON - FRI (TBD) Compressed/Flexible: No Telework: No Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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. 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 (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. 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: GS-7 LEVEL GRADE REQUIREMENTS Must have one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6). To be creditable, this experience must be equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-6, and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities. Experience at this level includes, but is not limited to: receiving contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area and may receive noncritical equipment in the decontamination area as well; disassembling the RME and determining 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; inspecting, assembling and determining the correct method and packaging for sterilization such as but not limited to steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO, and high level disinfecting scope reprocessors; performing and documenting daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment. Preferred Experience: 3 - 5 years of sterile processing service, endoscope, Censi-Trac, Loaner-Link, Excel and data collection. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/83 PART II APPENDIX G47.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. 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. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-7.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

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