Summary

This Medical Supply Technician (MST) position is in the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) Service of the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System located in Biloxi - Mississippi. Position is physically located at the Joint Ambulatory Care Center in Pensacola - Florida.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States English Language Proficiency - English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d) Experience and/or Education - Experience - Six months of experience that demonstrates the 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
• Grandfather Provision
• A Medical Supply Technician (MST) employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (May 28 - 2014) 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 may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• Employees 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
• Employees 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 re-entry to the occupation
• Grade Determinations: The full performance level for this qualification standard is the GS-06 grade level
• GS-03 Medical Supply Technician - Experience/Education Requirement: None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-04 Medical Supply Technician - Experience/Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-04 you must meet one of the following experience or education requirements: 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 US
• 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 (KSAs): 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 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 - Experience/Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-05 you must meet one of the following experience or education requirements: Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-04)
• Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Performing segments of work pertaining to the decontamination - sterilization and inspection of reusable medical equipment (RME)
• completing segments of work pertaining to the assembly of basic sets and trays for use in the medical center
• operating equipment involved in sterilization processes
• preparing operating room case carts
• 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 (KSAs): In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below: 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 (Full Performance Level) - Experience Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-06 you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05)
• Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Removing soil - blood - tissue fragments - body fluids - and other containments by wiping - soaking - rinsing - and scrubbing
• Inspecting packages for indications of proper sterilization - assembling basic sets and trays used throughout a medical facility including those used in the operating room
• preparing - loading - and operating sterilizers such as steam - Sterrad - Steris - ETO - and a high level disinfecting scope reprocessor
• prepares operating room case carts daily using surgery schedule
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above - you 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 regard to instrumentation
• Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures
• Preferred Experience: Previous Sterile Process experience **Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit.** 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-06
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06
• Physical Requirements: This work is performed in various settings: decontamination - preparation - clean sterile supply (preparation) 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
• 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 and frequent bending and lifting of packages (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds)
• The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating - disassembly and assembly of instrumentation
• Environmental Factors: Outside and inside - excessive heat - excessive humidity - excessive dampness or chilling - excessive noise (intermittent) - dust - fumes - smoke or gases - grease and oils - electrical energy - slippery or uneven walking surfaces - working around machinery with moving parts - working around moving objects or vehicles - vibration - working with hands in water - working closely with others - working alone - working with sharp objects - working with odors.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Medical Supply Technician (MST) will provide sterilization - preparation - supply items and reusable medical equipment decontamination and distribution support for the medical center The primary duties of the Medical Supply Technician (MST) may include but are not limited to: Cleaning and (when appropriate) disinfecting critical and semi-critical Reusable Medical Equipment/Reusable Medical Devices (RME/RMD) through manual and mechanical processes that employ sinks - ultrasonic cleaners - washer-disinfectors - automated endoscope reprocessors (AER) - ultra-violet sanitizing cabinets (UVC) - and automated cart washers - as well as a variety of decontamination agents and high-level disinfectants Processing non-critical equipment when necessary
• All cleaning and disinfecting done in accordance with (IAW) industry standards - manufacturer's instructions for use (IFUs) - VA directives - and department protocols Assembling - packaging - sterilizing - storing - and distributing RME and RMD for all Sterile Processing Services (SPS) customers IAW industry standards - manufacturer's IFUs - VA directives - and department protocols Conducting quality assurance testing on the SPS environment - equipment and processes IAW department and regulatory guidelines and manufacturer's IFUs Monitoring all mechanical - chemical - and biological sterilization indicators
• as well as all department-wide environmental indicators Verifying and recording all sterilization - environmental - and mechanical outcomes as needed and submit repair request when necessary Wearing appropriate work attire and personal protective equipment (PPE) while in both the SPS decontamination and sterilization areas IAW industry standards and VA directives Observing standard precautions and aseptic technique when applicable Monitoring department's humidity - temperature - air exchange rates - and floor-plan integrity for each SPS section Practicing strict adherence to department workflow and traffic-flow patterns Performing daily assigned duties in their entirety - according to designated competency level without the need for additional guidance or correction from supervision or other team members Completing all assigned duties and other work-related actions with IAW department guidelines - VA directives - regulatory guidelines - and with utmost integrity Meeting all deadlines to include daily work assignment deadlines - administrative deadlines and training deadlines Maintaining current knowledge of the department's Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that is commensurate with this position Exhibit knowledge of current industry-standard for cleaning - assembling/packaging - sterilizing - storing - and distributing RME/RMD Demonstrating acceptable knowledge of the correct form and function of RME/RMD being processed Work Schedule: Typically Monday - Friday - 12:00 p.m
• - 8:30 p.m
• CST
• the work schedule will be discussed during the interview process and is subject to change based on Agency needs
• 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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 #: 520-06642-F - 520-06643-F - 520-06644-F - 520-06645-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized