This Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) position is in Nursing service at the VA Boston Healthcare System, located at the Brockton, MA campus. This position is a full-time at 40 per week. Occasional cross-coverage to Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury campuses is required as needed and occasional coverage on off tours as needed.

Duties

Responsible for the direct supervision of day-to-day operations in SPS, regardless of tour of duty, including reusable medical equipment (RME) reprocessing for all clinical services. Demonstrates comprehensive understanding of current technologies, information systems, and is highly proficient in computer programs and software (i.e. Censitrac, Microsoft Office Suite). In collaboration with the SPS Leadership, manages and directs the overall activities of ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENT TRACKING SYSTEM (EIRS) (i.e., Censitrac). across all 3 campuses (WR, JP and BR). Develops and maintains system training, procedures and operating manual to ensure correct and complete utilization of EIRS. Oversees those responsible for approving instrument substitutes, proper usage of the loaner and maintenance modules in the EIRS, avoiding a backlog of old data. Generates and reviews EIRS reports to ensure compliance with all SPS policies and procedures. Ensures appropriate instrument marking techniques are utilized for the identification of and tracking of instrumentation. Performs data entry for new instrument sets, equipment, and procedural trays. Tracks additions, modifications and deletions made to instrument set count sheets. Initiates tracking reports and data analysis for SPS and presents requested. Creates new employee profile in tracking system according to job position. Assists in the development and implementation of electronic competency assessment to include for orientation, training and ongoing changes as new features are added. Uploads media of all types for the enhancement of accuracy for set assembly, special testing, preventative maintenance, and competency assessment. Review performance EIRS problems/errors as they occur and suggest ways to prevent reoccurrence. Assists in the development of a disaster plan downtime procedures for the EIRS, sterilization equipment, and other systems related to the data that is captured in the tracking system. Works with Facility IT and Biomed to create a middle layer of troubleshooting administration unless hardware related. Works with EIRS Vendors (i.e., Censis Technologies, Inc) in troubleshooting documentation issues or system performance issues. Operationalizes the quality assurance program in daily practice to ensure that the right instrument, in the right condition, the right place, at the right time. In conjunction with the Educator, the Supervisor will be responsible for operational deployment of a comprehensive training program for all SPS staff. Communicates daily with customers to ensure results is uninterrupted and consistently accurate flow of necessary RME supplies for procedures. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts short term priorities; prepares schedules for completion of work. Assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, to complete and task. Participates in Interview Panels and makes recommendations regarding hiring decisions. Provides recommendations regarding promotion and advancement of the Medical Supply Technicians. Resolves complaints from employees, referring group grievances and more serious unresolved complaints to a higher-level supervisor or manager. Identifies developmental and training needs of employees to fully comply with provisions of safety regulations. Finds ways to improve production or increase the quality of work directed and assists in development of performance standards. Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff, which are communicated through the formal employee performance management system. Observes workers' performance, demonstrates and conducts work performance critiques. Provides informal feedback and evaluates employee performance. Develops work improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary. Provides advice and counsel to workers related to technical work and administrative matters. Makes operational decisions based upon findings, observations or problems presented by subordinate technicians and direct observation. Advises Assistant Chief and Chief, SPS of problems in the organization's activities, and provides input to Assistant Chief that may lead to disciplinary actions, such as counseling and formal disciplinary action, within the framework of progressive discipline; recommendation may include termination, especially separation during the probationary period. Oversees the work of employees under his/her supervision, orients new employees to their duties, validates competencies of employees, identifies equipment requirements, and recommends methods to improve the quality and productivity of the service. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am- 4:30 pm including weekends, holidays, evenings, and nights as needed. Compressed: Not Authorized Telework/Virtual/Remote Work: Not Authorized Position Description/PD#: PDF02670 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/15/2024. BASIC REQUIREMENTS Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. English Language Proficiency: Medical Support Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. 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. Grade Determinations: GS-08: Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing): Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level which are: 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. Candidate must also demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Ability to manage, interact and deal with individuals of varying backgrounds. 2. Ability to direct staff and manage tasks to be completed. 3. Ability to oversee and supervise all aspects of decontamination, preparation, sterilization, monitoring, and distribution of RME. 4. Ability to perform a full range of supervisory duties, including assigning, planning and evaluating work, recommending awards, approving leave, identifying training needs, and resolving staff issues. Assignment. The Supervisory MST functions as a first-level supervisor responsible for the oversight of a group of MSTs, with administrative responsibility for planning and directing the work. Oversees attendance and leave, including approval of sick and annual leave and vacation schedules. Informs higher level management of anticipated vacancies or increases in workload. Recommends promotions, reassignments, recognition of superior performance, retention or release of probationary employees or other changes of assigned personnel. Holds corrective interviews with employees, referring disciplinary problems to higher levels of management. Resolves informal complaints of employees and deals with union representatives on personnel matters. Provides technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the organizational unit. References: VA Handbook 5005/83, Part II, Appendix G47, Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Qualification Standard GS-0622. The GS-08 is above the full performance level for this vacancy. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-08. Physical Requirements: 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). The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation. 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. The incumbent will be responsible for promoting a culture of safety and will fully cooperate in efforts to improve patient safety and eradicate potential events including the reporting of events resulting in actual or potential injury to a patient. Incumbent must demonstrate knowledge of the reporting procedures involving safety issues relating to patients. NOTIFICATIONS: This position is in the Excepted Service. Veterans' preference does not apply for other current permanent Federal agency employees. Current Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. This is not a Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA Boston campuses and assist with Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) support during periods of required coverage. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) will be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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 VA Boston Healthcare System 940 Belmont Street Brockton, MA 02301 US
• Name: Julia Murdoch
• Phone: 508-513-7803
• Email: [email protected]