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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring a Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Near Spokane, WA

Qualifications:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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 (Must provide transcripts if utilizing education)
  • Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. (Must provide transcripts if utilizing education)
• 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).

Grade Determinations:

GS-3 (Entry Level)

Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements.

Assignment: This is an entry level MST position. MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision.

GS-4 (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.

In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below:

1. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
2. Basic knowledge of medical terminology in order to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets.
3. Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.
4. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.

Assignment: This is a developmental level MST position. Performs segments of work pertaining to the decontamination, sterilization and inspection of reusable medical equipment (RME). Completes segments of work pertaining to the assembly of basic sets and trays for use in the medical center. Operates equipment involved in sterilization processes. Prepares operating room case carts. MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision.

GS-5 (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.

In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
2. Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility.
3. Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.

Assignment: This is a developmental level MST position. Removes soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other containments by wiping, soaking, rinsing, and scrubbing. Inspects packages for indications of proper sterilization, assembles basic sets and trays used throughout the medical center including those used in the operating room. Prepares, loads, and operates sterilizers such as steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO, and a high level disinfecting scope reprocessor; prepares operating room case carts daily using surgery schedule. MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more complex tasks and require direct supervision on new assignments.

GS-6 (Full Performance Level)

Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
2. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
3. Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures.
4. Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation.
5. Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.

Assignment: This is the full performance level for the occupation. Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area and 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, Steris, ETO, and high level disinfecting scope reprocessors. Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment.

References: VA Handbook 5005/76 Part II Appendix G47

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 to GS-6.

Physical Requirements: This work requires heavy lifting (45lbs and over), heavy carrying, straight pulling, pulling hand over hand, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking, standing, repeated bending, both legs required, and ability to distinguish basic colors. This works also requires working outside and inside, with excessive intermittent noise, constant noise, slippery or uneven walking surfaces, working around machinery with moving parts, working with hands in water, working closely with others, working alone, and hazardous chemicals.

Responsibilities:

Duties will vary based on grade. At the GS-6 level, duties will include, but are not limited to:

Scope of Assigned Duties

• Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area and receives noncritical equipment. Inspects, assembles and determines the correct method and packaging for sterilization. Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment.
• Rotates among the assigned duties. Adheres to quality control procedures. Processes and inventories medical devices and assumes continuous training in support of the reprocessing of RME in support of numerous services and activities.
• Maintains a working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures.
• Maintains knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination, as well as knowledge of sterility principles in-regards to instrumentation. Maintains knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.

Examining and Inspection of Condition of Instrumentation, Supplies and RME

• Responsible for the collection and receipt of all used, soiled reusable critical and semi-critical RME, utilizing proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and infection control procedures.
• Responsible for the proper disassembly of technical medical instrumentation and equipment.
• Responsible for thorough inspection for cleanliness, damage, deterioration, or imperfections that could affect the quality of patient care.

Cleaning Surgical Instrumentation and RME

• Responsible for the systematic manual and automated cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of instrumentation and equipment. Must use knowledge of instrumentation to differentiate by sight.
• Procedures performed are both in and outpatient.
• Responsible for the manual cleaning, high-level disinfection and/or sterilization of endoscopes, Cysto-Uretero Fiberscopes, video intubation scopes, transesophageal transducers and various ultrasound probes.
• Independently responsible for the proper operation of a variety of automated cleaning and disinfection equipment. Responsible for ensuring that quality assurance testing of the effectiveness of the equipment operation is completed and documented.
• Conforms to and ensures that all safety and infection control rules, regulations and requirements in both the decontamination and preparation areas are followed by all personnel working in, or entering, the work area.

Quality Assurance

• Operates a variety of high- and low-temperature sterilization equipment.
• Prepares the full range of trays and sets necessary for use in various areas of the medical center. Reassembles surgical instrument sets as required.
• Responsible for the proper assembly of complex, technical medical instrumentation and equipment.
• Adheres to and/or monitors guidelines as they pertain to inspecting, collecting, and transporting of infectious materials during daily soiled supply and equipment collection activities.
• Adheres to and/or monitors guidelines pertaining to workflow in regards to the separation of soiled and clean/sterile activities.

Assembling, Packaging, Wrapping and Sterilizing Instrumentation

• Responsible for determining proper instrument selection, instrument function/operation, need for instrument protection, and arrangement of items to ensure effective penetration of the sterilant.
• Independently determines proper packaging method and labels items appropriately.
• Continuously monitors priority of instrument needs to ensure needs are met proactively.
• Effectively processes and sterilizes a wide variety of implant devices, and ensures non-biologic implants are not released for use until the biological challenge device has completed.
• Utilizes knowledge of governing policies and regulating bodies and experience to react to request for emergent and/or urgent RME supply needs.
• Utilizes knowledge of equipment and instrumentation to respond to inquiries about the equipment and instrumentation.

Operations

• Utilizes computer programs.
• Performs peer training for new employees, user training and instructions to others, regarding the correct operating and preventative maintenance procedures of medical instrumentation and equipment. Identifies trends, recommends solutions, and implements quality improvement initiatives and programs related to program effectiveness.
• Performs other related duties as assigned, which are appropriate work for this position.
• Completes training coursework and VA SPS certification as required for a Sterile Processing Technician position in the VA.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 9:30am - 6pm with rotating weekend call and may include holidays
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation Incentive: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Job Summary