The Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) provides sterilization, preparation, supply items and reusable medical equipment decontamination and distribution support for the medical center. Supply items include disposable and reusable 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. 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. 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. English Language Proficiency: Medical Supply Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English 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-03 (Entry Level): Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-04 (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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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 in order 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 (Developmental Level): Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-04. Experience equivalent to the GS-04 includes, but is 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: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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 (Full Performance Level): Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Experience equivalent to the GS-05 includes, but is 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 the medical center 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; preparing operating room case carts daily using surgery schedule. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate 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 regards to instrumentation. Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures. Preferred Experience: 1-year experience as Medical Supply Technician Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) Experience with Reusable Medical Devices (RMD) and surgical instrument processing. References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G47, Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Qualification Standard 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: Heavy lifting (45 pounds & over); heavy carrying (45 pounds & over); pulling hand over hand (0.5 hours); walking (8 hours); standing (8 hours); kneeling (1 hour); repeated bending (0.5 hours); near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid may be permitted); mental & emotional stability. ["The duties and responsibilities for the position includes but are not limited to the following: -The incumbent functions as a sterile processing technician performing a wide variety of duties, that require high level disinfection or sterilization for patient care including instrumentation, surgical trays, endoscopes and various items that can be processed or assembled through the preparation, decontamination, or RMD satellite areas of SPS. -Additional responsibilities will include participation in the SPS quality assurance program to ensure safe reprocessing. This may be achieved through various methods such as the instrument tracking system, documentation, internal audits and required monitoring. -Incumbent will assume continuous training to maintain the knowledge and skill to reprocess all types of RMD to support the operating room, clinics and other services throughout VANTHCS. -SPS Service furnishes the Medical Center with critical and semi-critical RMD and other related materials for use by clinical staff when fulfilling patient care responsibilities. -The incumbent must be able to determine the appropriate reprocessing of RMD to ensure all steps are performed to make a contaminated item reusable or single patient use device patient- ready: Steps may include cleaning, functional testing, repackaging, relabeling, disinfection, or sterilization. SPS operates 7 days a week, 24 hours a day to ensure proper reprocessing, maintenance, and storage of critical and semi-critical reusable medical devices (RMD) Work Schedules: Night Shift: 11:30pm-08:00am (8 hour shift) Monday- Friday, Tuesday-Saturday, Sunday-Thursday Evening Shift: 3:30pm-12:00am (8 hour shift) Monday- Friday, Tuesday-Saturday, Sunday-Thursday Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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