Summary

Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Sterile Processing Service - Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System - Temple and Austin - Texas. This is an entry level MST position. MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• a
• Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section A - paragraph 3g.) b
• 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
• c
• Certification
• None
• d
• 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
• e
• 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
• f
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• g
• English Language Proficiency
• MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j - this part
• 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: The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• GS-03 (Entry Level) (a) Experience or Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• (b) Assignment
• This is an entry level MST position
• MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision
• GS-04 (Developmental Level) (a) 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 (b) 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
• (c) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• 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
• (d) 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-05 (Developmental Level) (a) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• or (b) 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
• (c) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• 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
• (d) 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-06 (Full Performance Level) (a) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• (b) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• 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
• GRADE DETERMINATION CONTINUED IN EDUCATION SECTION Preferred Experience: Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings
• Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation
• Certifications in specialty area CRCST) Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination
• Experience with real time instrument tracking systems such as Censitrac
• Reprocessing experience with flexible endoscopes 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 to GS-6. Physical Requirements: Work is performed in various settings: decontamination - preparation - clean sterile supply (preparation) and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus
• All employees must be able to use proper clothing and personal protective equipment for the work areas
• 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 - and other injuries from material handling equipment
• The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday with frequent bending
• The work requires functional requirements of moderate lifting and carrying items weighing 15-44 pounds
• The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating - disassembly - and assembly of instrumentation
• Employee has the right to report work related injuries.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties as assigned - but not limited to: The incumbent will perform segments of sterilization - preparation - decontamination - high level disinfection (HLD) - of reusable medical equipment and distribution support for the medical center
• The term \"supply item\" as used in this functional statement refers to Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) items for patient care including instrumentation (scissors - forceps - retractors - etc.) - surgical trays and sets and various other items that could be processed or assembled through the Preparation and Decontamination areas of Sterile Processing Service
• The incumbent must complete Level I and Level II training thereby obtaining Certified Registered Medical Supply Technician status
• The incumbent will obtain knowledge of documentation and logging of information and use of the Censitrac tracking system
• The incumbent will perform segments of work pertaining to the decontamination - sterilization and inspection of reusable medical equipment (RME)
• The incumbent will complete segments of work pertaining to the assembly of basic sets and trays for use in the medical center
• The incumbent prepares loads - operates equipment involved in sterilization processes - and high level disinfecting scope reprocessors with frequent guidance and observation from more experienced staff
• The incumbent prepares operating room case carts with guidance from more experienced staff members
• The incumbent 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
• The incumbent will pick-up and transport soiled RME and deliver to Decon
• The incumbent will deliver reprocessed RME to the appropriate service
• Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) The incumbent will have knowledge of the processes for Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) as required by this position
• RME is any medical equipment designed by the manufacturer to be used on multiple patients
• All personnel who are involved with the reprocessing of RME must have documented training in the setup - reprocessing - and maintenance of specific equipment
• Validation of competency will be done - minimally - on an annual basis
• All employees have the responsibility of reprocessing reusable medical equipment can suspend the reuse of any RME if they suspect that the device was not properly cleaned - disinfected or sterilized according to SOP and manufacturers guidelines
• The incumbent will be required to maintain current knowledge of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which document the processes and procedures for cleaning - disinfection - sterilization and preparation of RME appropriate to this position
• The incumbent will be able to demonstrate their ability to utilize an acceptable proficiency in the use of RME appropriate to this position
• Work Schedule: Austin Location: Monday through Friday - 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
• Temple Location: Monday through Friday - (8 hr) 1:00 pm - 9:30 pm OR (10 hr) 1:30 pm - 12:00 am (midnight) OR (8 hr) 11:30 pm - 8 am Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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 #: 00000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized