Summary

The Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) is responsible for the decontamination & processing of all Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) at the John L. McClellan Memorial VA Hospital in Little Rock - Arkansas. The lead works in support of the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) management team - distributing & prioritizing workload among employees in accordance with established workflow and/or job specializations.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• To qualify for appointment to this position - all applicants must possess the following: 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 VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section A - paragraph 3j
• 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
• Grandfathering 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: To qualify for the GS-07 level - your resume must demonstrate you possess the required experience necessary to possess the Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs) required for the grade
• Be specific when describing the job duties that demonstrate you possess the KSAs listed
• Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit
• Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - GS-07 Experience Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-07 you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6)
• Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Receiving contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area
• 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
• performing and documenting daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above - you must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to instruct staff on the correct procedures and protocols for completing assignments
• Skill in communicating with staff to ensure compliance with written directives - rules and regulations
• Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees - team leaders - and managers
• Knowledge of sterility principles in order to instruct staff on decontamination procedures
• Ability to lead individuals - manage priorities - and schedule work assignments
• Preferred Experience: 3 years of sterile processing experience preferred
• 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-07
• Physical Requirements: The work requires the incumbent to work and perform in various settings to include decontamination - preparation - clear sterile supply and other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus
• Must be able to walk - stand - bend - push - and pull for 8 hours per day
• Must be able to lift/pick up items (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds)
• Must be able to work under noisy conditions
• Environmental Factors: 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 employee is subject to burns from accidentally touching hot items
• 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
• Strong - unpleasant odors are encountered while decontaminating bloody or grossly contaminated instrumentation or reusable medical equipment
• The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments - rumbling of carts and operation of pre-sterilizing equipment.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) demonstrates a working knowledge of the processes and procedures for cleaning - disinfecting - sterilizing - and preparing Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) and remains current on the Standard Operating Procedures that govern the processes
• Duties may include but are not limited to: Provides sterilization - preparation - supply items and reusable medical equipment decontamination and distribution support for the medical center
• Distributes and prioritizes the workload among employees
• Revises work assignments to meet anticipated and unanticipated changes in the workload
• Assigns work to staff based on experience and training needs
• Monitors and reports on the status of work
• Ensures SOPs and SPS mandates are followed during the performance of workflow
• Reviews work in progress or spot checks work not requiring review to ensure completed work meets supervisors' instructions on such things as work sequence - procedures - methods - and deadlines
• Assesses the quality and quantity of work by reviewing the cleaning - reprocessing - and distribution of technical medical equipment - material and instrumentation
• Provides information to management officials concerning performance issues - assignment changes and task completion
• Instructs employees on work-related activities - policies - procedures and goals
• Assures work is done by approved SOP following manufacturer and VA guidelines
• Work Schedule: Determined by the service - needs to support 24-hour operations
• Weekend and holiday on call is required for all Sterile Processing staff members
• Subject to change based on the needs of the facility
• 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 #: 564-01486-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized