Jobs for People with MS: National MS Society

Summary The position is assigned to the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) under the Chief of SPS at the Louis A. Johnson Veterans Administration Medical Center. SPS is the central point within the Medical Center providing the technical supply functions of collecting, processing and decontamination of soiled supplies, instruments, and equipment; instrument preparation and sterilization; medical equipment maintenance, receiving, storing, and distribution of medical and surgical supplies, and equipment. Responsibilities Duties may include but are not limited to: Oversees a work team that includes at least one Medical Supply Technician position that is above the full performance. Distributes and prioritizes workload among employees in accordance with established workflow and/or job specializations. Revises work schedules to meet anticipated and unanticipated changes in the workload. Assigns tasks as necessary to provide new employees with the experience and training required to perform decontamination of scopes and instrumentation in the work area. . Assesses the quality and quantity of work by reviewing the cleaning, reprocessing, and distribution of scope medical equipment, material and instrumentation. Establishes and maintains frequent contacts with interdisciplinary staff and outside vendors and manufactures. Plans and directs the day to day working of the Instrument Management System (IMS) and have a thorough understanding of the development, building, and maintaining of the product for the facility. Provides technical support for the IMS and assist in efforts for performance improvement of provided services to ensure excellence in clinical outcomes and customer satisfaction. Creates new employee profiles in the tracking system according to the job position, paying particular attention to the features and access levels needed for the appropriate position. Monitors and provides real time sentinel event investigation, documentation, and communication as it pertains to IMS. Conducts Quality Assurance monitoring on all activities performed in Sterile Processing and Clinics to evaluate efficacy of training and education, to include, simple and complex instrument cleaning, endoscope reprocessing, surgical instrument tray preparation, sterilization monitoring, case cart assembly, mechanical equipment efficacy testing, and staff training and competency documentation. Performs routine inspection of areas across LAJVAMC that reprocess reusable medical equipment to ensure proper procedures are followed for safe use, cleaning, precleaning, disinfection/sterilization and transport of RME. Performs and reports all monthly quality checks of RME at point of use to identify non-conforming product. Maintains documentation of all QA activities and reports to the Chief, SPS, Assistant Chief SPS, Quality Assurance Clinicians SPS and recommends improvement opportunities. Participates in completion of VA mandated RME inspections and compiles data for tracking and trending purposes. Maintains a system of internal and external reviews ensuring overall compliance of all critical, semi-critical and non-critical RME used within the medical center. Tracks and analyzes required documentation pertaining to critical, semi-critical and non-critical RME within the scope of SPS for quality control purposes. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full time. Monday - Friday 8:00am-4:30pm. May be discussed with Supervisor. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Experience: Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's 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. Grade Determinations: GS-08 Lead Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. In addition to the experience above, must be able to demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to read and interpret written procedures and select appropriate action in order to instruct staff in correct procedures and protocols for completing assignments. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to ensure staff compliance with written directives, rules and regulations. Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers. Knowledge of sterility principles in order to instruct staff on decontamination procedures. Ability to lead individuals, manage priorities, and schedule work assignments. Assignment: The Lead MST at this level oversees a work team that includes at least one MST position that is above the full performance. Distributes and prioritizes workload among employees in accordance with established workflow and/or job specializations. Assures an even distribution of the workload. When necessary, revises work schedules to meet anticipated and unanticipated changes in the workload. Assigns tasks as necessary to provide new employees with the experience and training required to perform decontamination of scopes and instrumentation in the work area. Monitors and reports on the status of work. Ensures SOPs and SPS mandates are followed during the performance of workflow. Reviews or spot checks scope processing work to ensure completed work meets supervisors' instructions (e.g., work sequences, procedures, methods, and deadlines). Assesses the quality and quantity of work by reviewing the cleaning, reprocessing, and distribution of scope medical equipment, material and instrumentation. Provides information to management officials concerning performance issues, assignment changes and task completion. Instructs employees on work-related activities, policies, procedures and goals. References: VA Handbook 5005/83, Part II, Appendix G47, Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Qualification Standard, GS-0622, Veterans Health Administration. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. Physical Requirements: This job involves working in various settings such as decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply (preparation), and other departments within the medical facility/campus. The employee may be required to work in areas that are hot, cold, drafty, and poorly lit. There is a possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries from material handling equipment. The job requires standing and walking throughout the entire workday, as well as frequent bending and lifting of packages, which may occasionally weigh up to 50 pounds. The job also requires good dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembling, and assembling instrumentation. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.