Medical Supply Techician (Sterile Processing)

Veterans Health Administration • Erie, PA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is in the Sterile Processing Services program under Patient Care Services at the Erie Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The incumbent supports decontamination, preparation, and distribution of the hospital’s critical and semi-critical reusable medical devices (RMDs). The vacancy may be filled at GS-03 through GS-06; GS-06 is the full-performance level. Duties and independence vary by grade, with entry and developmental-level employees receiving frequent and direct supervision and guidance from experienced staff.

Work includes manually cleaning, decontaminating, inspecting, preparing, assembling, disinfecting, sterilizing, and transporting reusable medical devices to end users. At the full-performance level, the technician receives contaminated devices, disassembles them, selects cleaning and decontamination methods according to manufacturers’ instructions for use, inspects and assembles devices, determines appropriate sterilization methods and packaging, and documents daily operational checks and equipment records. Equipment and processes may include ultrasonic cleaners, mechanical washers and disinfectors, cart washers, chemical cleaning agents, steam and other sterilizers, and high-level disinfection scope reprocessors.

The technician must follow applicable standard operating procedures and manufacturers’ written recommendations, maintain knowledge of reprocessing procedures, and understand which items are processed locally or sent to Sterile Processing. Staff must follow appropriate decontamination and transport steps, have documented training for specific equipment, and observe competency-validation requirements. Reprocessing may be suspended when a device is suspected of not having been properly cleaned, disinfected, or sterilized. Single-use devices must not be reused or re-sterilized.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Compressed or flexible schedules, telework, virtual work, and relocation or recruitment incentives are not authorized. This is an Excepted Service position and requires a 1- or 2-year trial period. Employment is contingent on applicable pre-employment requirements, including a physical evaluation, background/security investigation, and drug testing for tentatively selected applicants in testing-designated positions. Seasonal influenza vaccination is required for VA health care personnel.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• At least six months of experience demonstrating ability to perform the work or understanding of it; alternatively, one year of post-high-school education including at least six semester hours of health care-related courses; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For GS-04: six months of qualifying experience or two years of post-high-school education including at least 12 semester hours related to the occupation, plus knowledge of universal precautions, basic medical terminology, basic sterilization and cleaning devices, and oral and written communication skills.
• For GS-05: one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade, or qualifying education described in the announcement, plus basic knowledge of surgical instruments, event-related packaging and sterility, and sterilization and cleaning devices.
• For GS-06: one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade, plus knowledge of surgical instruments, universal precautions, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures, sterility principles, and the ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.
• Must complete applicable pre-employment screening and onboarding requirements, including a physical evaluation, background/security investigation, and, when applicable, urinalysis drug screening.
• Must participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must meet the physical requirements, including standing and moving during work, lifting and positioning baskets and instrument trays, pushing loaded carts, and working with dexterity and visual acuity.
• Must be able to work in alternating contaminated and controlled clean environments and wear required special clothing and personal protective equipment.

Nice To Haves

• At least one year of experience in Sterile Processing.

Responsibilities

• Clean, decontaminate, inspect, prepare, assemble, disinfect, sterilize, and transport critical and semi-critical reusable medical devices.
• Remove soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other contaminants from devices using appropriate cleaning procedures.
• Receive contaminated devices and equipment, disassemble them, and select cleaning methods in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions for use.
• Inspect devices and packages, assemble basic instrument sets and trays, and determine appropriate sterilization methods and packaging.
• Prepare, load, and operate sterilizers and other cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization equipment.
• Perform and document daily operational checks and records for processes and equipment.
• Follow local standard operating procedures and manufacturers’ written recommendations for reprocessing reusable medical devices.
• Know which devices are reprocessed locally or sent to Sterile Processing, and follow required decontamination and transport steps.
• Maintain documented training and competency for specific equipment; suspend reuse of a device when proper reprocessing is in doubt.
• Do not reuse or re-sterilize single-use medical devices.
• Prepare operating room case carts and support medical center operations.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to the employee and family, with eligibility depending on position type.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual for prior work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment and not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed