Summary

The primary purpose of the Medical Supply Technician is to provide sterilization - preparation - supply items and reusable medical equipment decontamination and distribution support for the medical center.

Qualifications

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 (6) months of experience demonstrating the ability to perform the work or provide an understanding of the work
• OR - Education: One (1) year above high school that included at least six (6) semester hours in health care related course such as sterile processing - nursing assistant - hospital corpsman - and operating room and surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position
• OR - Combination: A combination of the above prescribed experience and education
• Creditable Experience Knowledge of Current MST Practices
• To be creditable - the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge - skills - and abilities (KSAs) associated with MST responsibilities
• Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non-paid employment as a MST
• 3 Quality of Experience
• Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to MST experience at the next lower grade level of the position being filled
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher level duties must consist of significant scope - administrative independence - complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Part-Time Experience
• Part-time experience as a MST is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek
• For example - a MST employed 20 hours a week - or on a 1/2-time basis - would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service
• Grade Determinations: GS-06 (Full Performance Level): Experience: One (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in Federal service
• Specialized experience may include - but is not limited to: Disassembling the RME and determining 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
• Inspecting - assembling and determining the correct method and packaging for sterilization such as but not limited to steam - Sterrad - Steris - ETO - and high level disinfecting scope reprocessors
• Demonstrated KSAs: In addition to the above prescribed experience and/or education - applicants must demonstrate the following knowledge - skills - and abilities: Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings
• Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination
• Possess working knowledge of medical terminology - anatomy and physiology - microbiology - medical conditions and procedures
• Possess knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation
• Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures
• Reference: VA Handbook 5005 - 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 GS-06
• Physical Requirements: 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
• May be required to work in areas that are hot - cold - drafty and poorly lighted
• Requires proper body mechanics when standing for up to 8 hours per day and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of packages/instrument trays should height (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds)
• 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
• Uses insulated gloves to remove carts from sterilizers - subject to burns form accidentally touching hot items
• The hazards of working around minute quantities of sterilizing gases are unknown
• 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 RME
• The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments - rumbling of carts and operation of pre-sterilizing equipment
• Will require reading on a computer screen and other documents
• Corrected vision via glasses or contacts is appropriate and use of a hearing aid or other device to correct hearing to within normal adult frequencies is allowed and appropriate
• Use of fingers to type on computer keyboard - sign documents - etc
• is required.

Duties

• Medical Supply Aide and Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Supply-Aide-Career-Flyer.pdf At the journeymen level - duties include but are not limited to: Receive contaminated critical and semi-critical RMD in decontamination area and may receive noncritical equipment in the decontamination area as well
• Disassembles the RMD and determines the correct cleaning method - such as but not limited to ultrasonic cleaners - mechanical washers - cart washer and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents as determined by manufactures instructions
• Inspects - prepares - assembles and determines the correct method and packaging for sterilization such as but not limited to steam - STERRAD - Steris - ETO and high-level disinfecting re-processors: may prepare operating room case carts daily utilizing surgery schedule
• Removes soil - blood - tissue fragments - body fluids and other contaminants by wiping - soaking - rinsing and scrubbing
• Inspects packages for indications of proper sterilization - assembles basic sets and trays throughout the medical center including those used in the operating room
• Performs work pertaining to the decontamination - sterilization and inspection of trays for use in the medical center
• Operate equipment involved in the sterilization process and may be required to prepare operating room case carts
• Documents daily operational checks and records data for all sterilization equipment
• Work Schedule: Sunday- Thursday
• 3:00PM - 11:30 PM & Tuesday - Saturday
• 3:00 PM - 11:30 PM
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 91618-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized