Medical Supply Technician -Sterile Processing

Summary
Serves as a Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) in the Sterile Processing Services (SPS) Section at Veterans Health Administration, Beckley, West Virginia VA Medical Center. As a Medical Supply Technician, you are responsible for the decontamination, sterilization, and inspection of Reusable Medical Device. The position starts as a GS-03 through GS-06, depending on experience.
This job is open to

• The public
  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency
This announcement is open to ALL U.S Citizens. 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference to external applicants for appointments made to shortage occupations.
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Duties
Please read the duties below, and the qualification required at each grade level, in the Qualifications section of the announcement. This position provides sterilization, preparation, supply items and reusable medical equipment decontamination and distribution support for the medical center.
Major duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Serves as a Medical Supply Technician (MS) and rotates among the various reprocessing areas, which may entail case cart assembly, instruments, and equipment reprocessing.
• Completes assignments within decontamination area, instrument preparation area, endoscope reprocessing areas and RMD storage areas.
• Uses knowledge of aseptic principles, surgical instruments used in sterile procedures and operating rooms and clinical settings, standard precautions for safety, and prevention of cross-contamination to complete various assignments and projects.
• Uses vast knowledge of medical and surgical terminology, human anatomy, and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions, and therapeutic procedures to complete assignments and provide advice to other staff.
• Assembles highly, complex instrument sets, which may include major orthopedic total joint, craniotomy, open heart, cardiovascular, and complex endoscopic instruments.
• Processes RMD devices in support of complex procedures completed in gastroenterology laboratory, bronchoscopy laboratory, urology, and operating room.
• Reviews manufacturer guidelines to ensure the correct methods and parameters are followed when cleaning, decontaminating, disinfecting, sterilizing, disassembling, and storing of RMD.
• Maintains an orderly work environment, sustains a work free of expired or damaged supplies. Monitors the environment and reports variations from prescribed temperature, humidity, and air flow as appropriate.
• Uses an understanding of the chemical characteristics of a variety of cleaning and sterilization agents and techniques so that the proper agent is selected to process simple and complex RMD.
• Examines instruments visually for material imperfections such as rust, pitting, and cracks. Performs stain remediation using industry approved methods and facility SOP.
• Checks the functionality of the items to ensure they are not damaged or unusable.
• Removes soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other gross contaminants by wiping, soaking, rinsing, scrubbing, and use of ultrasonic equipment. Loads and operates automated washer-disinfectors.
• Assess whether RMD requires extended processing due to excessive blood, bioburden, or delay in processing.
• Ensures standard operating procedures are accessible, and specifically followed for all RMD to ensure adherence to safety and compliance requirements.
• Maintains a clean and orderly assembly environment, sustains a work area free from expired or damaged reprocessing supplies. Keeps supplies in original packaging whenever possible for accurate product identification in the even of a product recall.
• Receives and inspects sterilized trays, sets, instruments, and equipment prior to placing in designated storage area. Inspection includes but is not limited to ensuring external indicators have changed during the sterilization process, the presence of tamper devices such as container locks, and condition of the packaging (intact, dry, and without staining or other irregularities).
• Places RMD on designated shelves using first-in, first-out (FIFO) stock rotation techniques.

• Performs duties pertaining to the decontamination, sterilization, and inspection of RMD.
• Operates equipment involved in sterilization processes.
• Performs, and documents, daily operational checks, and records for all sterilization equipment

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday Rotating Tour, Rotating call When hours,
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 0000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Requirements
Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications
All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to clearly demonstrate your experience in your application package may result in disqualification. All applicants are encouraged to submit responses to each Knowledge, Skill, and Ability (KSA) on a separate document.
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 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).
Grade Determinations:
GS-3 Experience and/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.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.

GS-5.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.

GS-6.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.

Preferred Experience: Experience with Sterile Processing Procedures & Dependable transportation.
References: VA Handbook 5005/83 Part II Appendix G47
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-04 to GS-06.
Physical Requirements: This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply 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, Needle Sticks, and other injuries from handling equipment. The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of sterile products and packages (occasionally weighing as much as 30 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 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.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Additional information
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regard...