The Lead Medical Supply Technician (MST) works in support of the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) management team. The Lead MST distributes and prioritizes workload among employees in accordance with established workflow and/or job specifications. The incumbent assures workflow and distribution of workload. The Lead MST instructs staff on the correct procedures and protocols for completing assignments, assesses the quality and quantity of work, assignment changes, and task completion.
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: 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: MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. Experience and/or Education Experience: Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work; OR 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 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). Grade Determinations: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. GS-07, Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6). While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge's Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics (KSAOs), you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position. Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training; otherwise, we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim. These are the KSA's for this subject position: Ability to instruct staff on the correct procedures and protocols for completing assignments. Skill in communicating with staff to ensure compliance with written directives, rules and regulations Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers. Knowledge of sterility principles in order to instruct staff on decontamination procedures. Ability to lead individuals, manage priorities, and schedule work assignments. Preferred Experience: 5 years experience in Sterile Processing, Work with major OR trays such as vascular, ortho, thoracic etc. Recent experience with GI endoscope, Medivators and Censitrac. CRMST or CRCST certified. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply (preparation) 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. The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of packages (occasionally weighing as much as 25 pounds). The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation. 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[1]sterilizing equipment.
Lead MST (SP)s perform all the functions of subordinate MSTs including, but not limited to: The Lead MST assesses the quality and quantity of work by reviewing the cleaning, reprocessing, and distribution of technical medical equipment, material, and instrumentation. 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. Conduct daily assessment of assigned area. Retrieve soil reusable medical equipment (RME) from operating rooms and outpatient surgical clinics to include Dental. Remove soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other containments by wiping, soaking, rinsing, brushing and scrubbing. Completion Level 1Training modules in TMS within 90 days of employment and obtain Level 2 certification within the year. Completion service specific orientation and staff in-service program of Sterile processing. Achieve competency in all areas of sterile processing (Decontamination, Prep and Assembly, Operating room and Endoscopy). Inspect packages for indications of proper sterilization. Assemble basic sets and trays used throughout the medical center including those used in the operating room. Prepare, load, and operate sterilizers such as steam, Sterrad. Knowledgeable in high level disinfecting (HLD) scope reprocessor such as the Medivator and Trophon. Prepare operating room case carts daily pull sheets and utilizing surgery schedule. MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more complex tasks and require direct supervision on new assignments. Inventory instrument trays in Censitrac for accountability of all instruments. Ensure instrument cleanliness and completeness as appropriate and deemed ready for sterilization. Monitor instrument sets through the sterilization process using CensiTrac and QA monitors. Deliver reprocessed instrument trays to clinics and Operating Room Core in a timely manner. Work as part of team of technicians to improve the throughput of surgical instruments through SPS. Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area and reprocess using standard operation procedures (SOP) and manufacture information for use (IFU). Note: may receive noncritical 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, Steam, and/or high-level disinfecting scope reprocessors such as the Medivator. Performs and documents daily and weekly QA operational checks and records documentation for all sterilization and HLD equipment and processes. Assembles highly complex instrument sets including, but not limited to, open heart, major orthopedic total joint, cardiovascular, craniotomy and complex endoscopic instrumentation. May be called upon to assist Sterile Processing Technicians with reprocessing RME. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 03:00pm to 11:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #:02840F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized