The Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) is responsible for the decontamination & processing of all Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) at the Veterans Healthcare System of the Ozarks in Fayetteville, 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:

1-3 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:

This work is performed in various settings decontamination preparation & packaging clean/sterile supply and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus. The incumbent may be required to work in areas that are hot, cold, drafty and poorly lit. The employee is subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries from reprocessing equipment. Work requires standing and walking during the entire workday. Additionally, 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:

Works in the performance of an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that require normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. On a regular and recurring basis, the employee alternates between the controlled access areas which include contaminated and sterile/clean environments. The employee is required to wear facility issued scrubs in conjunction with applicable PPE as required by the specific area which includes but is not limited to' hair & shoe covers, gowns, gloves, face shield, and safety glasses that can be uncomfortably warm. The employee is subject to burns from accidentally touching hot items. The hazards of working around minute quantities of sterilizing gases. The employee can be exposed to hazardous chemicals and vapors. The employee can be exposed to slips, trips, and falls related to wet environments. 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 pre-sterilizing equipment.