The position is within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), at the Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS) in the Sterile Processing Services (SPS), which organizationally reports directly to the Associate Director, Patient Care Services (ADPCS).

Duties

Decontamination, Manual Cleaning, and Sterilization: 1. Collects and receives all used, soiled reusable critical and semi-critical RMD, utilizing proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and infection control procedures to prevent cross contamination of other equipment and personnel during the collection and transport of the soiled RMD. 2. Responsible for the systematic manual and automated cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of instrumentation and medical equipment according to strict manufacturer instructions. 3. Responsible for the proper disassembly of technical medical instrumentation and equipment, where internal parts may become contaminated, which requires dexterity, skill, careful positioning of parts, and the elimination of any bioburden. 4. Independently responsible for the proper operation of a variety of automated cleaning and disinfection equipment, to include washer/disinfector, ultrasonic machines, automated endoscope reprocessors, and electrical conductivity testing devices. 5. During instrument tray assembly, technician is responsible for determining proper instrument selection, instrument function/operation, need for instrument protection, and arrangement of items to ensure effective penetration of the sterilant. Some instruments, due to size, delicacy, sharpness, and/or cost, require specialized handling and additional protective actions to ensure they are not damaged. 6. Independently determines proper packaging method, based upon size, number and weight of the assembled items, and labels these items appropriately. 7. Determines appropriate method of sterilization and attaches chemical indicator tape to package. 8. Sterilizes items comparing control tests to determine that correct parameters (e.g., time, temperature, and pressure) were obtained. 9. Removes items from washer sterilizers and determines type of tray or set to assemble based on recognition of key items and the operating room or clinic schedules. 10. Examines items to ensure that gross contamination has been removed. 11. Assembles sets and trays by selecting appropriate tray, lining it with a towel, and arranging instruments in the tray in the correct manner. 12. Strives for a logically arranged package that will permit effective penetration of the sterilizing medium. 13. Places devices in the tray, selects correct wrapping for the tray, and wraps and labels tray. 14. Selects correct sterilizing medium and cycles and operates sterilizer. 15. Monitors operation of sterilizer with prescribed tests. 16. Oversees the work of lower grade employees in prep and decontamination areas. Quality Assurance: 17. Responsible for thorough inspection for cleanliness, damage, deterioration, or imperfections such as rust, pitting and cracks that could affect the quality of patient care. 18. Responsible for ensuring that the items function properly and must be knowledgeable of the purpose and proper usage of medical instrumentation. Performing manual quality testing on endoscopes and instrumentation. 19. Responsible for ensuring that quality assurance testing for the effectiveness of the equipment operation is completed and documented to include mechanical, chemical, and biological monitoring. 20. Conforms to and ensures that all safety and infection control rules, regulations, and requirements (e.g., dress code and traffic control procedures) in both the decontamination and preparation areas are followed by all personnel working in, or entering, the work area. 21. Completes Quality feedback and JPSR as indicated by circumstances. Distribution: 22. Distributes items according to established requirements, special requests or as requisitioned. 23. Fills requests for items based on daily schedules of needs or on individual requisitions. 24. Pulls consumable items and instrument sets according to OR preference cards in the OR. 25. Consults with customers on items in short supply or out of stock, recommending possible substitutions. 26. Sends requested items to wards and clinics via cart delivery systems. 27. Periodically inventories stock. 28.Maintains records on stock levels and recommends revisions in stock levels as the need for supplies changes. Inventory Management: 29. Stores items in accordance with inventory system and storage guidelines. 30. Assists with inventory of RME and sterile supplies. 31. Assembles and loads operating room carts according to schedules and fills special and emergency requests for items. 32. Inspects inventories and checks in sets, equipment, and trays from medical vendors. Work Schedule: Variable Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: GS-3 554-56357-A, GS-4 554-56358-A, GS-5 554-56359-A, GS-6 554-56360-A 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. 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. English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. 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-03 (Entry Level) (a) Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements. (b) Assignment. This is an entry level MST position. MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision. GS-04 (Developmental Level) (a) Experience. Six months experience as a MST, operating room or surgical technician or other position that demonstrated knowledge of sterile processing in a clinical setting; or (b) Education. Two years of education above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation. NOTE: Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or nursing assistants obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces, the U.S. Maritime Service, or hospitals under close medical and professional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to 6 months of experience. (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below: 1. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination. 2. Basic knowledge of medical terminology in order to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets. 3. Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment. 4. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing. GS-05 (Developmental Level) (a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level; or (b) Education. Four academic years above high school leading to a Bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation or a Bachelor's degree. (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings. 2. Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility. 3. Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment. GS-06 (Full Performance Level) (a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings. 2. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination. 3. Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures. 4. Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation. 5. Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures. Preferred Experience: CRCST or equivalent, Flexible endoscope reprocessing. 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-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6. Physical Requirements: This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply (preparation and packaging) 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. Talking during the entire day and frequent bending and lifting of packages (occasionally weighing as much as much as 50 pounds). Standing for greater than 8-hours, pushing, pulling, and lifting throughout the shift are a requirement of the position. The work requires dexterity and visual and auditory acuity for manipulating, disassembling, and assembling of instrumentation. On a regular and reoccurring 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 gases are unknown. Technician may be exposed to fumes from various high-level disinfectants and cleaning chemicals. Technicians are periodically monitored and tested for exposure to certain hazardous chemicals. The employee often works around body fluids, mucus, 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 RMD. the work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts and operation of pre sterilization 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 VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System 1700 N Wheeling St Aurora, CO 80045 US
• Name: VISN 19 HR Contact Center
• Phone: 719-227-4600
• Email: [email protected]