This position is located within the Sterile Processing Service in the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System. Sterile Processing covers five locations including, Gainesville Medical Center, Lake City Medical Center, Jacksonville Outpatient Center (JOPC), Tallahassee Health Care Center (THCC), and the Villages Outpatient Center (TVOPC).
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 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. Certification: None. 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. 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. Grade Determinations: GS-03 Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) (Entry Level) Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-04 Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) (Developmental Level) 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 Education. Two years of education above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation. NOTE: Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or nursing assistants obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces, the U.S. Maritime Service, or hospitals under close medical and professional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to 6 months of experience. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below: Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination. Basic knowledge of medical terminology in order to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets. Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing. GS-05 Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) (Developmental Level) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level; or 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings. Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility. Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment. GS-06 Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) (Full Performance Level) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination. Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures. Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation. Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures. 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 in the range of GS-3 - GS-6. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting, 45 lbs. and over; Heavy carrying, 45 lbs. and over; Straight pulling; Pushing; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking; Standing; Kneeling; Repeated bending; Climbing, legs only; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted) Environmental Factors: Outside and inside; Slippery or uneven walking surfaces; Working closely with others.
Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) duties may include, but not limited to the following: Per VHA Directive 1116(2), chapter 7a and d, all new Medical Supply Technicians must complete Level I training within 90 days of hire. Additionally, all Medical Supply Technicians must participate in continuing education such as, computer-based training, or in-service education sessions leading to 12 education hours annually. Level 2 training will be completed as soon as possible. Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area and may receive noncritical equipment in the decontamination area as well. Recognition of basic and specialty instrumentation though knowledge or use of available resources to accurately assemble basic and complex surgical trays. Disassembles complex RME and determines the correct cleaning methods, such as but not limited to ultrasonic cleaners, mechanical washers, cart washers and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents, as determined by manufacturer's instructions. Removes soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other contaminants by wiping, soaking, scrubbing, and rinsing as determined by manufacturer's instructions. Assembles instruments; including the most complex sets, and other surgical items, by selecting appropriate items, trays, instruments, etc. and assembles them in the correct manner to ensure appropriate sterilization. Ensures count sheet is accurate and complete using tracking system. Processes scopes and probes according to manufacturer's guidelines and timeframes: includes but not limited to leak testing, cleaning, brushing, and flushing. Identifies scopes requiring delayed reprocessing and completes delayed reprocessing, performs channel checks, high-level disinfection, packaging for transport to include correct model number, serial number and expiration date, transports to appropriate clinical area, hangs scope in cabinet as required, and completes accurate documentation. Inspects, assembles and determines the correct method and packaging for items that are sterilized (using hydrogen peroxide or steam) or high level disinfected (for AERs and manually high-level disinfecting). Scans instruments/scopes/probes as required in all steps of the cleaning/sterilization process to ensure accurate tracking of item through the entire process and accurate capture of workload. Maintains clean clutter free work environment including but not limited to appropriate par levels, replacing loose instrumentation in appropriate storage locations, scanning trays following policy and procedures to appropriate storage location and putting trays in correct location. Labels all sterilized items correctly according to AAMI and VHA Directive 1116(2) standards. Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment. Builds the full complement of Operating Room case carts to include RME, implants, and disposables. Identifies suitable replacement if requested item is not available. Utilizes advanced functions of instrument tracking system. Provides customer service by fielding requests from end-users. Consistently demonstrates effective customer service by interacting with co-workers, staff, patients, visitors, students, and volunteers in a courteous and professional manner. Trouble shoots mechanical failures and with supervision makes necessary adjustments to complex decontamination and sterilization equipment, as well as interprets alarm conditions which may occur while operating the equipment. Performs maintenance per manufacturer's guidelines on all equipment used in scope processing, decontamination, and sterile processing. Provides guidance and training to staff members with less experience. Participates in a quality assurance program to ensure appropriate and safe reprocessing is being performed as evidence by documenting: sterilizer recording charts, digital printouts, biologicals and Bowie Dick test results, high level disinfectant records, and other associated quality assurance documentation. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 50676F, 50681F, 50686F, 50691F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Available Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized