The incumbent has responsibility for monitoring work performed in all work areas of the SPS Section, which includes Decontamination, Processing, Instrument Preparation, GI Lab, Operating Room Core Area, and Distribution, as they relate to support patient care needs. The incumbent also is responsible for all documentation related to QA monitoring and reporting, training, and competencies related to instrument tracking system, software, and SPS processes.

Duties

DUTIES: Serves as direct Liaison to all end using services in the facility where use, storage and reprocessing of RME takes place. Reviews completed work to assure that Supervisor, SPS instructions on work sequence, procedures, methods and deadlines have been met as deemed appropriate to assess the quality and quantity of work produced by each employee. Plans, develops, directs and maintains a Quality Control Program ensuring product quality assurance through random sampling, biological testing, product assessment and related means, providing QA reports upon need. Ensures the availability and control of many separately recurring reusable medical/surgical supplies and equipment, which have difficult supply and demand patterns due to the mission of the facility. Items are subject to rapid changes in technology, often required on an emergency basis; have difficult sterility and sterility related problems due to the complicated nature of the items; are difficult to procure due to the specialized nature of the items; uniqueness to meet individual needs and/ or lack of vendors in the local area. Audits all locations where critical and semi-critical RME is utilized, reprocessed and stored to include documentation to assure each patient care area and SPS is compliant with SPS/RME directives and handbooks as well as industry standards such as Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) and International Reports. Participates in training in the setup, use, reprocessing, and maintenance of their unit/department-specific equipment leading to the initial competency and validation of ongoing competency at least annually. Monitors the process of cleaning/decontamination, sterilization, reprocessing, and distribution of critical and semi critical RME. Develops procedures to evaluate the quality of work performance and outcomes as it relates to the quality assurance program. Utilizes qualitative analysis tools to prepare reports for trending, evaluate operations and facilitate improvements in workflow and quality processes. Assists with technical training, utilization, installation, maintenance, repair, modification, life expectancy, and replacement of networked medical devices. Works with a variety of staff members internal and external to SPS to facilitate local data collection and track progress on a regular basis to maintain the delivery of high-quality sterilization and reprocessing. Gives formal training and orientation on material handling, sterilization techniques, operation of sterilizers, principles of packaging sterile material, storage, correct sterilization and decontamination methods, RME, safety, body mechanics, and quality assurance monitoring techniques. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 3:00pm to 11:30pm; with call Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part). English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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. 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). 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). 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. Grade Determinations GS 7: Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to instruct staff on the correct procedures and protocols for completing assignments. Skill in communicating with staff to ensure compliance with written directives, rules and regulations. Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers. Knowledge of sterility principles in order to instruct staff on decontamination procedures. Ability to lead individuals, manage priorities, and schedule work assignments. 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: 3-5 years MST experience References: See VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-47 Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity for manipulating, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. 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 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). 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.

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 Ralph H Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 109 Bee Street Charleston, SC 29401 US
• Name: Shaundrel Land
• Phone: 4042457329
• Email: [email protected]