Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

Veterans Health Administration • Tulsa, OK

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System is hiring one Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) for the Ernest Childers VA Outpatient Clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The technician performs work involving the decontamination, cleaning, inspection, assembly, and sterilization of reusable medical equipment (RME), and prepares operating-room case carts. Instruments and equipment are processed according to manufacturer instructions and applicable sterilization procedures.

The position receives contaminated instruments and equipment from operating rooms and multiple clinical areas, inspects them for damage and contamination, and determines appropriate cleaning and disinfection methods. The technician operates washer-disinfectors, cart washers, ultrasonic equipment, and sterilizers; assembles instrument sets and trays; selects sterilization methods and cycles; conducts prescribed quality-control tests; and records test results and sterilization load contents. Duties also include processing dental handpieces and instruments and keeping current through training and professional literature.

The employee must maintain a valid state driver's license and drive a government vehicle to transport reusable medical equipment from community-based clinics to the main campus. The full-time schedule is Monday through Friday, 0800–1630. Telework is not available. Work takes place in decontamination, preparation, clean-supply areas, and other hospital departments, with exposure to physical and environmental conditions described in the posting, including contaminated materials, hot surfaces, odors, and noisy equipment.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for appointments when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• At least six months of qualifying experience, or one year of post-high-school education including at least six semester hours in health-care-related courses, or an equivalent combination of education and experience for entry-level qualification.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Maintain a current, valid state driver's license.
• Meet the applicable grade-level experience or education requirements and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities specified for the grade sought.
• For GS-04, demonstrate knowledge of universal precautions and cross-contamination prevention, basic medical terminology, and sterilization and cleaning equipment, plus oral and written communication ability.
• For GS-05, demonstrate basic knowledge of surgical instruments, event-related packaging and sterility, and sterilization and cleaning equipment.
• For GS-06, have one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade and demonstrate knowledge of surgical instruments, universal precautions, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures, sterility principles, and ability to interpret written instructions and procedures.
• Complete required application and onboarding requirements, background/security investigation, pre-employment physical evaluation, and drug screening if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position; participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Meet the physical requirements, including standing and walking for the full shift, frequent bending, lifting up to 50 pounds, and the dexterity and visual acuity needed to handle and assemble instruments.

Nice To Haves

• One year of experience as a sterile processing or scrub technician in an outpatient or hospital setting.
• Knowledge of instrument tracking systems (ITS).
• Attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Receive contaminated reusable medical equipment and instruments from operating rooms, dental clinics, endoscopy, nursing units, eye clinics, wound care, podiatry, and other areas; inspect items for damage and proper working condition.
• Determine and perform appropriate decontamination, cleaning, and disinfection methods according to manufacturer instructions.
• Remove blood, tissue, bone fragments, body fluids, soil, and other contaminants using methods such as soaking, wiping, brushing, rinsing, scrubbing, and ultrasonic equipment.
• Disassemble, inspect, clean, lubricate, reassemble, and sterilize reusable medical supplies, instruments, dental handpieces, and specialty instruments.
• Operate washer-disinfectors, cart washers, ultrasonic equipment, sterilizers, and scope-reprocessing equipment as applicable.
• Select appropriate trays and sets, assemble instruments correctly, and prepare operating-room case carts according to schedules.
• Select appropriate sterilization media and cycles, load and operate sterilizers, and monitor sterilizer performance using prescribed tests, including bacteriological challenge tests.
• Document sterilization test results and load contents and perform operational checks and records for sterilization equipment.
• Receive training on new medical, dental, and surgical instruments and equipment and stay current with developments and techniques.
• Drive a government vehicle to transport reusable medical equipment from community-based clinics to the main campus for disposal.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility and are available through the hiring agency for details.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual for prior federal service, work experience, or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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