This position is located in the Sterile Processing Services (SPS) Section of Patient Services, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The incumbent will provide inventory support and physically maintain stock at primary and secondary inventory locations for SPS. He/she will also provide sterilization, preparation, supply items and reusable medical equipment decontamination and distribution support for the medical center. BASIC REQUIREMENTS Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3g.) English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. 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. Physical Requirements. This work requires regular and recurring strenuous physical exertion, such as lifting medical supply items weighing more than 50 pounds, pushing and pulling heavy medical supply carts weighing several hundred pounds and working them over rises such as door sills or positioning them on elevators through doorways and up and down ramps. Incumbent will be required to stand and/or walk for prolonged periods of time with regular and recurring bending, stretching and stooping. The area can be quite noisy due to the clatter of metal upon metal when working with instruments and trays, the rumbling of carts and the operation of sterilizing equipment, ultrasonic cleaner, washer-disinfector, steam guns and exhaust fans. The incumbent must carefully monitor the work areas to minimize potential exposure to chemicals and ensure compliance with OSHA, VA and local policies and regulations. Employee is encouraged and, in some areas, required to wear hearing protection devices. On a regular and recurring basis, the employee alternates between a contaminated environment and a carefully controlled clean environment. In both, the employee is required to wear special protective clothing which is often uncomfortably warm and restrictive. If processing contaminated RME, the employee must wear hair cover, decontamination gloves, impervious gown/jumpsuit, shoe cover, and face-shield. The employee uses insulated gloves to remove trays from sterilizers. The employee is subject to burns from accidentally touching hot items and surfaces and is required to handle items that are contaminated with blood and bodily fluids. Very strong and unpleasant odors are frequently encountered in the processing of particular items. The area can be quite noisy due to the clatter of metal upon metal when working with instruments and trays, the rumbling of carts and the operation of sterilizing equipment, ultrasonic and disinfectant washers, steam guns and exhaust fans. GRADE REQUIREMENTS Grade Determinations. The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-03 (Entry Level) (a) Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements. 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. (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 GS-04. examples of experience include but not limited to: performs segments of work pertaining to the decontamination, sterilization and inspection of reusable medical equipment (RME). Completes segments of work pertaining to the assembly of basic sets and trays for use in the medical center. Operates equipment involved in sterilization processes. Prepares operating room case carts. MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision. 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 GS-05. Example of experience include but not limited to: removes soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other containments by wiping, soaking, rinsing, and scrubbing. 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, Sterrad, Steris, ETO, and a high level disinfecting scope reprocessor; prepares operating room case carts daily using surgery schedule. MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more complex tasks and require direct supervision on new assignments. (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. 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. ["GS-3 duties This is the entry level for this occupation. Performs segments of work pertaining to the decontamination, sterilization and inspection of reusable medical equipment (RME). Completes segments of work pertaining to the assemble of basic sets and trays for use in the medical center. Operates equipment involved in sterilization processes. Prepares operating room carts. MST's at this level, receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision. GS-4 duties This is the developmental level for this occupation. Performs segments of work pertaining to the decontamination, sterilization and inspection of reusable medical equipment (RME) Completes segments of work pertaining to the assemble of basic sets and trays for use in the medical center. Operates equipment involved in sterilization processes. Prepares operating room carts. MSTs at this level receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision. GS-5 duties: This is a developmental level for the occupation. Removes soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other containments by wiping, soaking, rinsing, and scrubbing. Inspects packages for indications of proper sterilization, assembles basic sets and trays used throughout the medical center. Prepares, loads, and operates sterilizers such as steam or low temperature (hydrogen peroxide) and high-level disinfecting endoscope re-processor. Prepares Ambulatory Surgery Unit case carts using the daily surgery schedule. Performs other duties as assigned. MSTs at this level receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more complex tasks and require direct supervision on new assignments. GS-6 duties This is the full performance level for the occupation. Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area and may receive non-critical equipment in the decontamination area as well. Disassembles the RME 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, ETO, and high-level disinfecting scope re-processors. Processes all complex endoscopic instrumentation to include those medical devices used in the gastroenterology laboratory, bronchoscopy laboratory, urology and operating room. Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Schedules may vary; Rotating weekends and holidays 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"]
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
