Summary

This position is located within the Sterile Processing Service in the VA Northeast Ohio System at Cleveland - Ohio. The Advanced Level Medical Supply Technician works in support of the Sterile Processing Service (SPS).

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
• English Language Proficiency: MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with the VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j
• Experience and 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
• 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)
• Grandfathering Provision
• All MSTs that are employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: Employees grandfathered into the GS-622 occupational series as MSTs may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation
• MSTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard MSTs who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements listed above - you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level - (GS-6)
• Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Receiving contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area
• disassembling the RME and determining 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
• inspecting - assembling and determining the correct method and packaging for sterilization such as but not limited to steam - Sterrad - Steris - ETO - and high level disinfecting scope reprocessors
• performing and documenting daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Detailed knowledge of complex surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings
• Ability to assemble specialty operating room and clinic instrument sets
• In-depth knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing in order to convey information and thoughts to others
• Preferred Qualifications: 1-2 years Sterile Processing experience and/or 1-2 years Endoscope processing experience
• Graduate of an accredited Sterile Processing Certification Program National Certification in Sterile Processing (HSPA - CBSPD) 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-7. Physical Requirements: This position may require shift work and/or rotation of tour of duty assignments
• Routinely requires heavy lifting (50 lbs
• and over) - heavy carrying (45lbs and over) - intermittent straight pulling and pushing (up to 8 hrs.) - intermittent walking (8hrs) - intermittent standing (8 hrs.)intermittent kneeling (8 hrs.) and intermittent repeated bending (8hrs
• ) Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4 - far vision correctable one eye to 20/20 - depth perception - ability to distinguish colors - ability to distinguish shades of colors - hearing aid permitted and ability to operate transportation equipment
• The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating - disassembly and assembly of instrumentation
• This work is performed in various settings: decontamination - preparation - clean sterile supply (preparation) - gastrointestinal intestinal endoscope reprocessing hub - 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
• 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.

Duties

• Duties of the Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Coordinator include but are not limited to: Assembles highly complex instrument sets including - but not limited to - open heart - major orthopedic total joint - cardiovascular - craniotomy and complex endoscopic instrumentation
• Processes all complex endoscopic instrumentation to include those medical devices used in the gastroenterology laboratory - bronchoscopy laboratory - urology and operating room
• Reviews manufacturer guidelines to ensure the correct methods and parameters are followed when cleaning - decontaminating and sterilizing RME
• Troubleshoots and analyzes mechanical failures and makes necessary adjustments to complex decontamination and sterilization equipment - as well as interprets alarm conditions which may occur while operating the equipment
• Informs management and healthcare staff when cleaning and processing standard operating procedures (SOPs) or instruction for use have been changed or updated to assure the changes have been validated to meet all guidelines
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 11:00pm-7:30am
• rotating weekends and holidays
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 93103-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized