Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - RME Coordinator
Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Application
Details
Posted: 20-Sep-24
Location: Chillicothe, Ohio, Ohio
Salary: Open
Categories:
Operations
Internal Number: 800534100
The Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - RME Coordinator provides oversight in the development, implementation, coordination, maintenance, and evaluation of critical, semi-critical, and non-critical reusable medical devices within the RME program. This includes coordination across services and/or disciplines which can influence the organizational mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities for RME. 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. 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.) Experience and/or Education: 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. Certification. None. Grandfathering Provision. All Medical Supply Technicians (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. 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 grandfathered into the GS-622 occupational series as MSTs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation. MSTs 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. MSTs 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 reentry to the occupation. 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. 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-07 Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - RME Coordinator Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to interact with individuals of varying backgrounds in order to assess the needs of the department. Ability to coordinate work in order to complete duties in an accurate and timely fashion. Ability to interpret and apply sterile processing/infection prevention regulations and policies. Ability to evaluate new products and equipment. Ability to initiate and lead interdisciplinary groups in carrying out sterile processing functions. Assignment: The RME Coordinator provides oversight in the development, implementation, coordination, maintenance and evaluation of critical and semi-critical medical 7 devices within the RME Program. Reviews the acquisition of new equipment and advises using services of anticipated delivery dates. Controls the release of any new equipment until verification of all SOPs have been developed and communicated to staff. This includes coordination across services and/or disciplines which can influence the organizational mission, vision, values and strategic priorities for RME. Monitors, analyzes and provides consultation on infection control issues regarding RME. Participates in clinical rounds to assist in the verification of each service's SOPs for RME. Investigates the need for any manufacturer and model-specific SOP required for new RME at the time of the acquisition request. When new SOPs are required, obtains the necessary information from the manufacturer or vendor. Develops SOPs to standardize equipment used in the medical center. Educates hospital staff, including the executive level, on all new equipment to ensure compliance is met as it relates to RME. 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. 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. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/76 Transmittal Sheet May 28, 2014 (FORMER VA HANDBOOK REFERENCE: PART II APPENDIX G47 EFFECTIVE DATE: May 28, 2014) The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-07. Physical Requirements include but are not limited to: Subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries from material handling equipment. Standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting packages (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. Works around body fluids, mucous, excretions and bits of tissue, some of which may be foul smelling. The environment poses exposure potential to caustic chemical agents that requires barrier protection to prevent skin irritation, burns, and other harmful effects. A full detailed write-up of the physical requirements can be found on the functional statement which is kept in Human Resources. ["Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Medical Supply Aide and Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Supply-Aide-Career-Flyer.pdf Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Responsible for interpreting policies and procedures of SPS to others in the work setting, functions within established guidelines, demonstrates the ability to work effectively, and develops sound relationships with nursing staff as well as other professional and supportive staff. Assist in all areas of the SPS department to include sterile processing, decontamination, reusable medical device reprocessing and inventory control for the Chillicothe VA Medical Center. Monitors, analyzes, and provides consultation on infection control issues regarding RME. Participates in clinical rounds to assist in verification of each service's standard operating procedures (SOPs) for RME. Investigates the need for any manufacturer and model-specific SOP required, obtains the necessary information from the manufacturer or vendor. Develops SOPs to standardize equipment used in the medical center. Educates hospital staff, including the executive level, on all new equipment to ensure compliance is met as it relates to RME. Functions in all areas of the instrumentation and delivery process as needed per unit. Provide sterilization, preparation, supply items and reusable medical equipment decontamination and distribution support for the medical center; these specific duties could include, but not limited to removing soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids and other containments by wiping, soaking, rinsing, and scrubbing. Assembles basic sets, trays and peel packs used throughout the medical center, including those used in the operating room. Inspects packages for indications of proper sterilization, proper packaging, and signs of unsterile product. Advanced skills for next lower grade level should include case cart preparation, based on surgical schedule. Operation of all sterilizers, to include steam and hydrogen peroxide and performs high level disinfection via soak and scope reprocessing. Documentation of testing procedures and legal data logs. Responsible for compliance with all requirements for the decontamination and reprocessing of RME and complies with all competency assessments for SPS processing of RME. Processing of sterile medical supplies to wards, clinics, and precrural areas in the health care system. Decontaminates, packages, and sterilizes instruments and items which provide direct patient support to the entire medical center, nursing units, clinical area, procedure areas, dental, and urgent care. Makes recommendations and assist with supply request for patients with special needs. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 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 #: 92777-0 Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.