Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) position for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) in the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) of the Salt Lake City George E. Whalen Hospital. This position will be supporting the decontamination, preparation, and sterilization, disinfection, and distribution of the facilities critical and semi-critical reusable medical devices (RMD).
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. 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. OR 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. 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-07 Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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: VA Sterile Processing Certification (formerly known as Level 2 or HSPA CRCST certification or CBSPD certification 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 GS-7. 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 MST may be required to work in areas that are hot, humid, 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 50 pounds). The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly and assembly of RMD, as well as discerning physical monitors and process indicators of equipment. On a regular and recurring basis, the employee alternates between a contaminated environment and a carefully controlled clean environment. The employee wears special clothing, and personal protective equipment (PPE) that can be uncomfortably warm. The Medical Supply is subject to burns and chemical exposure. The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts and operation of equipment.
Provides decontamination, preparation, disinfection, sterilization, distribution, and inventory management support for the medical center. Works with other MSTs and ensure completion of work, appropriate quality assurance measures and ensure procedures are being adhered to, as well as review completed work. At this level the Lead will have a working ability and knowledge of RMD, reprocessing equipment, processes, and quality assurance measurement and acceptance. Performs tasks with little to no guidance, assistance or instruction and may not require frequent and direct observation. The position is required to assist in the instruction, teaching, or orientation of new or inexperienced personnel and perform competency assessment. Performs all full-performance level work of a MST and provide support for the decontamination, preparation, disinfection, sterilization, distribution, inventory management of RMD, reprocessing equipment and processes for the medical center. Assists with oversight and support of the RMD program. Assists in the training and education of other Medical Supply Technicians and assisting in the review, development, and implementation of Sterile Processing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Competency Assessment Tools (CATs) for MSTs regarding RMD, reprocessing equipment and processes. Assists with the training and education of clinicians (end-users) regarding end-user processing of RMD. Demonstrates attention and compliance to facility and SPS policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), competency assessment tools (CATs), manufacturer instructions for use (MIFU) and record management. Reviews, present and initiate improvements of the RMD program; review, implement and track modifications made to RMD and reprocessing equipment MIFUs, SOPs, CATs, diagnostic/functional testing, usage and preventive maintenance and quality feedback. The Lead will assist collecting and providing data to assist in establishing benchmarks for quality improvement. Assists in collaboration and demonstrate excellent customer service with internal and external customers to ensure appropriate professional standards (i.e., Directive, OSHA, The Joint Commission, CDC, AAMI/ANSI, etc.), quality management, and performance improvement measures are consistently applied in the RMD program. Assists in the development, review, and implementation of a disaster plan, including downtime procedures, regarding the RMD program. Requires to maintain current knowledge of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and manufacturer's instructions for use (MIFU) which document the processes and procedures for cleaning, preparation, sterilization, disinfection, and distribution of RMD. Demonstrates their ability to utilize an acceptable proficiency in the use of RMD appropriate to this position. Cleans RMD - remove gross soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other containments by discarding, wiping, brushing, scrubbing, soaking, rinsing; and mechanically wash RMD in decontamination. Prepares, assemble, maintain, handle, and package RMD according to SOPs and/or MIFUs. Disinfects and/or sterilize RMD utilizing appropriate disinfection and/or sterilization methods and equipment according to SOPs and MIFUs. The Lead will perform and document daily operational checks for all processes and equipment. Reviews and assess all RMD for quality assurance acceptance prior to release for use, including quality assurance review, accuracy of documentation and records and ensures compliance to policy and procedure, submit electronic work orders for the department. Analyzes and provides consultation on infection control issues regarding RMD. Monitors supplies and equipment functionality in all areas where reprocessing occurs. Assigns MSTs to areas of work and provides management a daily report of state of the department, supplies, end-user needs and the status of RMD, can lead staff and evaluates and manages priorities. Assists in the monitoring and completion of quality assurance evaluations of work performed by staff Work Schedule: M-F 10pm-6:30am Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 52790-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized