MED SUPPLY TECH (STERILE PRO RMD Coordinator)

Veterans Health Administration • North Chicago, IL

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Supply Technician in Sterile Processing is responsible for sterile processing and/or high-level disinfection of critical and semi-critical reusable medical equipment, and for maintaining quality assurance for machines, scopes, and high-level disinfectors. In the RMD Coordinator assignment, the technician provides oversight for development, implementation, coordination, maintenance, and evaluation of reusable medical devices within the RMD Program. The role reviews new-equipment acquisitions, coordinates applicable procedures and staff communication, monitors infection-control matters, participates in clinical rounds, develops standardized procedures, and educates hospital staff on new equipment and compliance.

The position also supports Sterile Processing Services (SPS) operations by ordering reprocessing supplies and reusable medical devices, researching products, obtaining vendor quotes, preparing tracking reports and data analysis, and coordinating with Logistics and SPS stakeholders regarding equipment, safety notifications, recalls, and new instruments. The technician reviews manufacturer instructions for use, creates standard operating procedures, maintains equipment and instrument-tracking records, and provides expertise and training in the facility’s instrument-tracking system. The role may require work outside normal tours, including evenings or weekends, as assigned. Mandatory training and VA SPS certification are required as applicable to a Sterile Processing Technician position.

The advanced-level assignment includes assembling highly complex instrument sets and processing complex endoscopic instrumentation. It requires reviewing manufacturer guidelines for cleaning, decontamination, and sterilization; troubleshooting and adjusting complex equipment; interpreting alarm conditions; and informing management and healthcare staff when procedures or instructions change. Work occurs in decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply, and other areas throughout the medical facility. The work may involve hot, cold, drafty, or poorly lighted environments, and requires standing and walking throughout the workday, frequent bending and lifting, and dexterity and visual acuity for handling instruments.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA non-citizen appointment exception.
• 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 relevant healthcare courses; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• For GS-07 advanced level, one year of experience equivalent to GS-6 and/or six months of experience equivalent to the GS-07 Advanced Level Medical Supply Technician.
• Knowledge of current Medical Supply Technician practices and SPS and infection-prevention regulations.
• Knowledge of SPS functions and training procedures for new and existing staff.
• Knowledge of universal precautions and prevention of cross-contamination.
• Knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions, and procedures.
• Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment, sterility principles, surgical instrumentation, and event-related packaging for sterility.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing and to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.
• Ability to assemble specialty operating-room and clinic instrument sets and process complex endoscopic instrumentation.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Completion of required VA SPS certification and mandatory training coursework, as applicable.
• Ability to meet applicable pre-employment requirements, including background/security investigation, drug screening for testing-designated positions, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Ability to perform work involving standing and walking throughout the workday, frequent bending and lifting packages occasionally weighing up to 50 pounds, and dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembling, and assembling instruments.

Responsibilities

• Oversee development, implementation, coordination, maintenance, and evaluation of critical and semi-critical reusable medical devices within the RMD Program.
• Review acquisition of new equipment and advise services about anticipated delivery dates.
• Control release of new equipment until applicable standard operating procedures are developed and communicated to staff.
• Coordinate RMD activities across services and disciplines in support of organizational priorities.
• Monitor, analyze, and provide consultation on infection-control issues related to reusable medical devices.
• Participate in clinical rounds and verify services’ RMD standard operating procedures.
• Determine whether new reusable medical devices require manufacturer- or model-specific procedures and obtain information from manufacturers or vendors as needed.
• Develop standard operating procedures to standardize equipment used in the medical center.
• Educate hospital staff, including executive-level personnel, on new equipment and related compliance requirements.
• Order SPS reprocessing supplies and reusable medical devices, obtain vendor quotes, and research products and supplies.
• Initiate tracking reports and data analysis for SPS.
• Coordinate with Logistics regarding safety notifications, recalls, and related issues.
• Coordinate with SPS Management, Logistics, the RMD RN Coordinator, the RMD Educator and Trainer, and Quality Assurance on newly purchased and leased instrumentation.
• Correspond and report to the RMD Committee and other facility, VISN, and national councils and committees involved with SPS.
• Respond to VISN and national action trackers.
• Review instructions for use and create standard operating procedures for reusable medical devices.
• Complete required training coursework and VA SPS certification.
• Use instrument-marking techniques to identify and track surgical instrumentation after sterilization.
• Maintain records produced by reprocessing equipment and instrument-tracking systems.
• Provide expertise, guidance, and training on the SPS instrument-tracking system to staff and management.
• Use electronic equipment-tracking systems to plan and determine current and future supply and instrument requirements.
• Assemble highly complex instrument sets, including open-heart, major orthopedic total-joint, cardiovascular, craniotomy, and complex endoscopic sets.
• Process complex endoscopic instrumentation used in gastroenterology, bronchoscopy, urology, and operating-room settings.
• Review manufacturer guidelines and follow correct methods and parameters for cleaning, decontaminating, and sterilizing reusable medical equipment.
• Troubleshoot and analyze mechanical failures, adjust complex decontamination and sterilization equipment, and interpret equipment alarms.
• Notify management and healthcare staff when processing procedures or instructions for use change or are updated, and ensure changes are validated against applicable guidelines.

Benefits

• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual-leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Child-care subsidy may be available after 60 days for eligible full-time employees and qualifying families, up to 25% of eligible child-care costs and a stated monthly maximum.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term-care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.

What This Job Offers

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