VA Portland Health Care System is a Complexity Level 1a Facility and provides extensive primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary care in outpatient, inpatient, residential, and community settings. VAPORHCS is a multi-site medical system that includes a major medical facility in Portland, Oregon, outpatient and residential facilities in Vancouver, Washington, and 10 Community Based Outpatient Clinics.

Duties

The duties of this position include but are not limited to the following: The incumbent will have knowledge of the processes for Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) as required by this position. The incumbent will be required to maintain current knowledge of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which document the processes and procedures for cleaning, disinfection, sterilization and preparation of RME appropriate to this position. The incumbent will be able to demonstrate their ability to utilize an acceptable proficiency in the use of RME appropriate to this position. The work involves the provision of sterile medical and surgical instruments, supplies, equipment and information to Surgery, the wards and clinics located throughout the Medical Center and associated facilities. The work product and timeliness with which it is provided directly affects patient care throughout VAPORHCS and contributes to quality patient care. Receives all reusable, contaminated instrumentation and equipment directly from all patient care areas, to include the OR Suites, Endoscopy labs, Dental Services, specialty clinics and patient wards. Follows Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the removal of all soil, blood, tissue fragments, bone, body fluids and other gross contaminants by soaking and hand washing prior to placing into ultrasonic cleaners and/or washer/disinfectors. Disassembles and reassembles equipment and instruments where the internal parts may become contaminated. Operates various kinds of equipment such as ultrasonic, fiber-optic and laparoscopic instrument cleaners; washer-sterilizers/decontaminators, autoclaves, plasma and gas sterilizers and associated devices. Processes a wide array of semi-critical RME to including by not limited to various and diverse endoscopes and probes used in endoscopy, bronchoscopy, imagine, urology, ENT, and other specialty clinics. Prepares a full range of reusable medical/surgical supplies and equipment used throughout the Medical Center. Removes trays of instruments from reprocessing equipment; inspects items to be sure treat gross contamination has been removed and that instruments function properly. Sorts out the instruments by size and type and reassembles trays and sets based on recognition of key items or inventory needs. Complex sets include those used in organ transplants, major orthopedic, vascular and cardiac, and cutting-edge neurosurgery. Technicians must ensure all instruments are clean, functioning correctly and places in the set in a pre-determined organization based on the type of sets. Uses car in packing to protect points, cutting edges, and delicate instruments and to insure effective penetration of sterilizing medium. The Supervisory MST functions as a first-level supervisor responsible for the oversight of a group of MSTs, with administrative responsibility for planning and direction 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. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 3:00pm-11:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. 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. English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Grade Determinations: GS-08: Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-07. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to manage, interact and deal with individuals of varying backgrounds. Ability to direct staff and manage tasks to be completed. Ability to oversee and supervise all aspects of decontamination, preparation, sterilization, monitoring, and distribution of RME. 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 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

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 Portland Health Care System 3710 Southwest US Veterans Hospital Road Portland, OR 97239 US
• Name: Scott Newburn
• Phone: 208-422-1000 X7576
• Email: [email protected]