Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing-Advanced Level)

Veterans Health Administration • New Orleans, LA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This advanced-level Medical Supply Technician position is in the Sterile Processing Service, Nursing Service, at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System in New Orleans, Louisiana. The technician provides sterilization, preparation, decontamination, and distribution support for medical supplies and reusable medical devices (RMD). The role handles complex surgical and endoscopic instruments and supports end users in resolving processing issues.

The position works Monday through Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Telework and virtual work are not available. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized. The full performance level is GS-7.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated exception under VA policy for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• At least six months of experience demonstrating ability to perform the work or understanding of the work; or one year of education above high school including at least six semester hours in healthcare-related courses; or an equivalent combination of qualifying education and experience.
• For the GS-7 advanced level, one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• Detailed knowledge of complex surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
• Ability to assemble specialty operating-room and clinic instrument sets.
• In-depth knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to convey information and thoughts to others.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and applicable background/security investigation; selected applicants are subject to required onboarding and other stated pre-employment conditions.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Responsibilities

• Assemble highly complex instrument sets, including open-heart, major orthopedic total-joint, cardiovascular, craniotomy, and complex endoscopic sets.
• Process complex endoscopic instruments used in gastroenterology, bronchoscopy, urology, and operating-room settings.
• Review manufacturer guidelines to ensure correct methods and parameters are followed when cleaning, decontaminating, and sterilizing reusable medical devices.
• Troubleshoot and analyze mechanical failures, make necessary adjustments to complex decontamination and sterilization equipment, and interpret equipment alarms.
• Inform management and healthcare staff when standard operating procedures or instructions for use have changed or been updated, ensuring changes are validated against applicable guidelines.
• Serve as a contact for end users, assist with problem solving, provide solutions to leadership, and attend meetings to provide input as needed.
• Receive contaminated critical and semi-critical reusable medical equipment in the decontamination area and reprocess it according to standard operating procedures and manufacturer instructions for use.
• Receive noncritical equipment in the decontamination area.
• Disassemble reusable medical devices and determine the correct cleaning method, using equipment and agents such as ultrasonic cleaners, mechanical washers, cart washers, and chemical cleaning or decontamination agents as directed by manufacturer instructions.
• Perform and document daily and weekly quality-assurance operational checks for sterilization and high-level-disinfection equipment and processes.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility.
• Potential credit toward annual-leave accrual for prior work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED