Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)
Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Application
Details
Posted: 11-Jan-25
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, Ohio
Categories:
Operations
Internal Number: 827442600
The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for a Lead Medical Supply Technician (MST). The Lead MST will function in 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 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. English Language Proficiency. Lead MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, 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). Grandfathering Provision. All 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. Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-07 Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)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 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. 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-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS07. Physical Requirements: This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, sterile supply, and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus. The MST may be required to work in areas that are hot, cold, drafty, and poorly lighted. The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as standing for prolonged periods of time, frequent bending and stretching/reaching, walking, and pushing fully-loaded carts which must be negotiated up inclines and over rises, or positioning them. There are frequent trips throughout the facility picking up soiled items or delivering clean/sterile equipment. The employee usually stands and moves from one part of the room to another while performing duties. There is frequent requirement for lifting individual instruments, instrument trays, and items weighing up to 50 pounds from just above the floor to above the head. The technician transports trays and equipment on a variety of carts that may weigh several hundred pounds when full. Employee must be acutely aware of safety requirements when moving these carts as they have areas that extend outside the visible area that can cause harm to other staff or equipment. The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly, and assembly of instrumentation. Computer work and instrument sorting requires periods of intense visual concentration 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, shoe covers, and other appropriate personal protective equipment 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 employee is subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries. The hazards of working around minute quantities of sterilizing gasses are unknown. The employee often works around biohazard materials such as; body fluids, mucous, excretions, and bits of tissue, some of which may be foul smelling. Strong, unpleasant odors may be encountered while decontaminating and disinfecting instrumentation or reusable medical equipment. The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts, and operation of cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilization equipment. ["The Lead MST duties include, but are not limited to: Distributes and prioritizes workload among employees in accordance with established workflow and/or job specializations. Assures an even workflow and distribution of the workload. Revises work schedules 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. Leads a unit or team of employees performing work at the GS-6 level or below. Provides guidance and technician direction for accomplishing the work of the unit or team. Ensures all work assignments of employees in the unit or team are carried out. Works with the Chief and Assistant Chief/Supervisor, SPS, in the assignment of functions to team members in order to meet routine and unusual deadlines and priorities. Distributes and balance workload and tasks among employees in accordance with established workflow, job specialization and/or capabilities of individual. The position is a working Lead Technician, responsible for filling in and for distributing the workload in case of personnel shortages or short notice priorities, to ensure a smooth workflow. Ensures timely accomplishment of assigned tasks and ensures that each employee has enough work to keep busy. When necessary, revises work schedule to meet anticipated and unanticipated changes in the workload. Assigns work to employees or assign employees to a position. Breaks out tasks as necessary to provide new employees with the experience and training required to perform the task. Assigns work, including overtime, disagreeable or choice tasks, etc., equitably among employees. Explains work requirements, methods, and procedures, as needed, giving special instructions on difficult or different operations, and answering technical questions about the task. Monitors status and progress of work and makes day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities. Maintains a current knowledge of procedures, policies, and directives and be available to answer any questions of the SPS employees. Trains or arranges for the training of team members in the accomplishment of tasks or projects. Gives on-the-job training to new employees in accordance with established procedures and practices. Obtains assistance and/or needed information from the supervisory staff on problems that may arise or backlogs that cannot be disposed of promptly. Amends or rejects work not meeting established standards. Refers questions or matters not covered by standards and problems in meeting performance standards to the supervisory staff. Checks the cleaning, reprocessing and distribution of technical medical equipment, materiel and instrumentation as deemed appropriate to assess the quality and quantity of work produced by each employee. Work Schedule: Variable Shifts, 7:00am-3:30pm and 11:00pm-7:30am Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 93261-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized"]
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.