Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

Summary

The Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) is responsible for the decontamination & processing of all Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) at the Veterans Healthcare System of the Ozarks in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The lead works in support of the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) management team, distributing & prioritizing workload among employees in accordance with established workflow and/or job specializations.

Duties

The Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) demonstrates a working knowledge of the processes and procedures for cleaning, disinfecting, sterilizing, and preparing Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) and remains current on the Standard Operating Procedures that govern the processes. Duties may include but are not limited to: Serves as a senior expert in inventories, replenishes shortages from sterile supply, inspects for sterility integrity for instrument Sets and expendable items. Adheres to and reports any non-compliance towards facility regulations regarding application and removal of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Follows up to ensure RME rotates at the appropriate intervals, communicates needs for restocking outdated supplies, and maintains stock levels of surgical supplies and equipment for wards, clinics. and the operating room. Initiates assigned tasks on requests for instrumentation based on the daily schedule of needs or individual requisitions. Rounds with supervision to ensure areas have performed daily housekeeping duties to ensure environment of care is maintained. Coordinates with those who stock individual surgical case carts with required instruments for each scheduled and emergency OR procedure. Ensures Staff operates automation equipment according to facility procedure to prepare, store, retrieve or process information. Trains new and/or lower graded employees at the request of supervision. Coordinates the assignments given by the supervisor to receive a full range of reusable medical supplies, instruments, and equipment from hospital wards, clinics, and operating rooms. Adheres to and reports any non-compliance facility regulations regarding application and removal Of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Ensures staff decontaminates reusable items by determining the appropriate method for removing gross contamination by means of manual cleaning procedures. Reviews adherence of staff in relation to disassembly, decontamination, and infection control practices of instrumentation in accordance with facility protocol. Ensure staff operate automated reprocessing equipment such as the ultrasonic cleaner and washer/disinfectors in accordance with the device Instructions for Use Monitors High-Level Disinfection (HLD) procedures by means of manual and automated processes while following the device(s) IFU's. Performs random quality audits by examining items and instruments for damage, deterioration, or imperfection. Reports and/or conduct training episodes to address any non-compliances. Aids in first echelon maintenance and troubleshooting reprocessing equipment. Maintains accurate written records of quality and preventative maintenance of such equipment. Ensures that staff follow all device specific Instructions for use (IFU) and set forth Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) while conducting assembly and sterilization procedures. Conducts audits to review staff adheres to facility regulations regarding application and removal of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Validates skill level of staff to ensure the efficient assembly of a wide variety of instrument trays and sets used for medical procedures including the operating room. Ensures quality checks for damaged or missing items of all instrument sets and arranges for replacements, maintenance, or repair as needed. Coordinates the workflow for assembly to include prioritization from a variety of sterilization phases for intricate Surgical trays and microsurgery instruments for the operating room (trays contain large numbers of unique, non-interchangeable, specialized surgical instruments of similar appearance, with minor variations in size, conformation, and nomenclature, but with major variation in application). Ensures that daily bacterial spore testing and sterilizer controls measures are met to ensure principles of sterilization. MST is vigilant on reprocessing steps and on the look-out for cross contamination and determines whether items are free of microorganisms. Monitors and reports biological testing for each sterilization cycle Accepts accountability for the maintenance of all preparation and packaging quality data. Research recommends, and applies to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Federal Drug Administration (FDA) standards as they pertain to sterile processing and the distribution of medical supplies. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, Scheduled hours will fall between 6:00am - 8:30pm with on call schedules. Subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 564-00944-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following: Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States English Language Proficiency - English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3j. Experience and/or Education - Experience - Six months of experience that demonstrates the 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. Grandfathering Provision. A Medical Supply Technician (MST) employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (May 28, 2014) 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 may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees 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. Employees 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 re-entry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: To qualify for the GS-07 level, your resume must demonstrate you possess the required experience necessary to possess the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) required for the grade. Be specific when describing the job duties that demonstrate you possess the KSAs listed. Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit. Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing), GS-07 Experience Requir