The Supervisory Medical Supply Technician is responsible for direct supervision of day-to-day operations in Sterile Processing Service, regardless of tour of duty. Communicates daily with customers in order to ensure open communication that results in uninterrupted and consistently accurate flow of necessary reusable medical equipment. Resolves informal complaints and grievances. Develops work improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary.
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. Medical Supply Technician MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, of VA HANDBOOK 5005/76. 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. 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: (1) 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. (2) 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. (3) 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 REQUIREMENTS GS-08 Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) (a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS - 07) (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:1. Ability to manage, interact and deal with individuals of varying backgrounds.2. Ability to direct staff and manage tasks to be completed.3. Ability to oversee and supervise all aspects of decontamination, preparation, sterilization, monitoring, and distribution of RME.4. Ability to perform a full range of supervisory duties, including assigning, planning and evaluating work, recommending awards, approving leave, identifying training needs, and resolving staff issues. (c) Assignment. The Supervisory MST functions as a first-level supervisor responsible for the oversight of a group of MSTs, with administrative responsibility for planning and directing the work. Oversees attendance and leave, including approval of sick and annual leave and vacation schedules. Informs higher level management of anticipated vacancies or increases in workload. Recommends promotions, reassignments, recognition of superior performance, retention or release of probationary employees or other changes of assigned personnel. Holds corrective interviews with employees, referring disciplinary problems to higher levels of management. Resolves informal complaints of employees and deals with union representatives on personnel matters. Provides technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the organizational unit. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS - 08. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 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. The work requires proper body mechanics when standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lining of packages/instrument trays (occasionally weighing as much as 50 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-sterilizing equipment. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/76 MAY 28, 2014 PART II APPENDIX G47
FUNCTIONS/DUTIES The Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (MST) functions as a first-level supervisor responsible for the oversight of a group of MSTs, with administrative responsibility for planning, directing, and assessing the work. In this position, the incumbent oversees all aspects of the work to include decontamination, preparation, high-level disinfection, and sterilization of critical and semi-critical reusable medical equipment (RME), assembly of surgical case carts for the Operating Room, retrieval and delivery of RME, and maintenance of the work environment in accordance with VHA directives and memoranda governing operations in SPS. The Supervisory MST is competent to perform work tasks, assist with workload, and assess work quality. The Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (MST) is required to complete Sterile Processing Service (SPS) Level 1 training within 90 days of hire and participate in continuing education (i.e., computer based training and in-service education sessions) to maintain SPS Level 1 certification. Attaining SPS Level II certification and having a certification in sterile processing from a professional organization is preferred. The incumbent will be required maintain knowledge of the department's Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which document the processes and procedures for the cleaning, decontamination, preparation, high-level disinfection, sterilization, and storage of the RME appropriate to this position. The incumbent will be required to maintain competency in all reprocessing activities. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS The Supervisory Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) is under the supervision of the Assistant Chief, Sterile Processing Service. Supervisor provides guidance concerning strategic program requirements, objectives and interpretation but incumbent works primarily independently using knowledge of job requirements, utilizing published manuals, policies and directives. Additionally, the Supervisor is expected to exercise judgement and flexibility in exercising emergency contingency plans in the event of internal or external disasters. Individual has responsibility for exercising independent judgement in the management of administrative controls, planning, training, including Quality Management, oversight of processing activities, ensuring competencies and directly all functional activities within SPS. Exercising independent judgement in all technical matters within the scope of SPS is essential, with that judgement based on expert knowledge of requirements and guidelines from VHA, Joint Commission, International Association of Health Care Central Service Material Management, Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses, Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, and others. ASSIGNMENT This is a managerial level position in Sterile Processing Service as a Supervisory Medical Supply Technician. In this position, incumbent as the SPS Shift Supervisor is available to consult with the employees, provide guidance, and review work related to all reprocessing activities. The shift supervisor must be able to work as a team member with other MSTs of varying experience levels and is expected to provide guidance and direction regarding normal operations as well as unusual problems that develop. The supervisor reviews work for overall technical soundness and conformance with departmental SOPs, facility and agency policies. Work is assessed through observation of the work area, discussion with the employee, and feedback from the end users of RME reprocessed by the department. The Shift supervisor is responsible for holding employees accountable for work performance and adherence to department and facility policies. Supervisory MSTs are responsible for overseeing attendance and leave to ensure employees are in their assigned work areas during work hours and that break and meal periods do not exceed the allotted time. Shift Supervisors may approve sick leave and annual leave requested during the shift and collaborate with the service chiefs in planning and approval of upcoming leave requests and vacation schedules. The Shift Supervisor informs higher level management of anticipated vacancies or increases in workload. The Supervisory MST recommends to higher level management recognition of superior performance, retention or release of probationary employees or other changes of assigned personnel. The Supervisory MST provides corrective guidance and may conduct interviews with employees in accordance with applicable agreements and regulations to investigate workplace irregularities, referring disciplinary problems to higher levels of management. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 6:00am to 12:00am Financial Disclosure Report: Not required