Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) for Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The Organizational Location of the Position is: Sterile Processing Service, Mayaguez Outpatient Clinic In this position, the incumbent will provide cleaning, decontamination, preparation, packaging, sterilization or high-level disinfection and distribution of reusable medical devices (RMD) throughout the medical center.

Duties

Major Duties, but are not limited to: Provide cleaning, decontamination, preparation, packaging, sterilization or high-level disinfection and distribution of reusable medical devices (RMD) throughout the medical center. Remove soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other contaminants by wiping, soaking, rinsing, and scrubbing. Ensures devices are cleaned appropriately and free of soil, blood, tissue debris, body fluids, and other gross contaminants. Prioritize RMD that needs sterilization in accordance with surgical schedule and clinics' demands. Appropriately stocks sterile storage, following regulatory expectations. Transports contaminated RMD from clinical areas throughout the facility to decontamination room in accordance with transport regulations. Maintains clean work environment and reports when equipment malfunction. Assembles basic sets, trays and peel packs used throughout the medical center, including those used in the operating room. Inspects packages for indications of proper sterilization, proper packaging, and signs of unsterile product. Determines correct method of disinfection for the several types of endoscopic equipment. Follows the decontamination process for instruments per established Standard Operating Procedures and/or Manufactures Instructions for use. Reports to management lack of pre-cleaning or instrumentation damages. Utilizes the departments instrument tracking software to document the reprocessing of RMD. Inspects packages for indications of proper sterilization, assembles basic sets and trays used throughout the medical center including those used in the operating room. Prepares, loads, and operates sterilizers such as steam, hydrogen peroxide low temperature, or high-level disinfecting scope re-processor. Prepares operating room case carts daily using surgery schedule. Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RMD in the decontamination area and may receive non-critical equipment exceptions in the decontamination area as well. Disassembles the RMD and determines 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. Inspects, assembles, and determines the correct method and packaging for sterilization such as but not limited to steam, Sterrad, Steris, and high-level disinfecting scope re-processors. Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment. Work Schedule: Rotating shifts, weekends, holidays and Outpatient Clinic (OPC) coverages. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 061936F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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: 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 six (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. Certification: None. 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. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency: Medical Supply Technician (MSTs) must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. 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 Determination: GS-06: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05). Experience to the next lower grade includes: Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings; Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility; Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must 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 regards to instrumentation. Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures. Creditable Experience: Knowledge of Current Medical Supply Technician (MST) Practices: To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with Medical Supply Technician (MST) responsibilities. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non-paid employment as a Medical Supply Technician (MST). Quality of Experience: Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to Medical Supply Technician (MST) experience at the next lower grade level of the position being filled. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Part-Time Experience: Part-time experience as a Medical Supply Technician (MST) is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a Medical Supply Technician (MST) employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service. Selective Placement Factor: Must be proficient in spoken and written Spanish language. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06. Physical Requirements: The work is performed in various settings throughout the facility, to include but not limited to; decontamination, scope room, sterile storage, Prep & Packaging and clinical departments. The incumbent may be required to work in a multitude of temperature variants. The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday, with frequent bending and lifting of instrumentation (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 will be asked to rotate between carefully controlled clean environments and the contaminated area of decontamination. The employee wears personal protective equipment, as appropriate for their area. This will include, but not limited to; hospital provided surgical attire, hair covers, beard covers, shoe covers, and hospital dedicated shoes. The employee may be exposed to hazardous materials or loud noises within the department

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 San Juan VA Medical Center 10 Calle Casia San Juan, PR 00921 US
• Name: Mireya Rodriguez-Perez
• Phone: 787-641-7582
• Email: [email protected]