Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - RME Coordinator

The Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) Coordinator is competent as an Medical Supply Technician within SPS functions as a member subject matter expert of the SPS and provides support for all matters of concern relating to procedures for the decontamination, high-level disinfection (HLD), and/or sterilization of critical and semi-critical reusable medical devices and equipment storage of items reprocessed at Beckley VA Medical Center (BVAMC) facility.

Major Duties Includes:

• Responsible for researching all manufacturers IFUs of all the reusable
  RMD of the facility to ensure compliance in reprocessing of RMD.
• Creates and updates SPS SOPs for all RMD.
• Provides technical training to all MSTs necessary for accomplishing the
  work of the organizational unit.
• Checks in/out the loaner instruments from different vendors.
• Reviews procedural schedules of departments throughout the facility to
  ensure needed instruments are available and ready for use in a timely
  manner.
• Collaborates and communicates with multiple departments to ensure
  workflow needs are met.
• Collects, receives, inspects, decontaminates, high-level disinfects and
  performs terminal sterilization of soiled supplies, instruments, equipment,
  and apparatus to include complex diagnostic equipment and medical
  apparatus.
• Completely and thoroughly dissembles and positions all parts of RMD to
  ensure the removal of bioburden, proper cleaning, and disinfection prior
  to sterilization.
• Performs leak tests on Endoscopes to ensure that the watertight integrity
  of the scope is intact before initiating the cleaning and high-level
  disinfection process or terminal sterilization.
• Performs appropriate and safe reprocessing for all RMD by strictly
  adhering to the Quality Management Program requirements.
• Operates decontamination equipment such as washer decontaminators,
  sonic washers, irrigators, automatic cart wash and tube dryers.
• Inspects, assembles, packages, high-level disinfects and sterilizes all
  instruments, instrument sets, and packs for use throughout the medical
  center.
• Performs appropriate and safe reprocessing for all RMD by strictly
  adhering to the Quality Management Program (e.g., uses testers,
  bioburden checks and instrument integrity checks).
• Follows all manufacturers' instructions on packaging and sterilization of
  RMD using department SOPs based on manufacturer guidelines.
• Operates all sterilization that pertains to sterilization processes such as
  Steam Sterilizers, Sterrad, Sterrad NX, heat sealers, and incubators.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8-hour tours with rotational tours to meet patient care needs and rotational call weekdays, weekends, and Holidays.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 517-260325-F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grandfathering Provision. All MSTs that are employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard 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:

1. Employees grandfathered into the GS-622 occupational series as MSTs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation.
2. MSTs 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.
3. MSTs 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 reentry to the occupation.

Grade Determinations:
GS 7 Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) RME Coordinator
Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination. Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures. Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation. Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.

GS 7 Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) RME Coordinator
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

1. Ability to interact with individuals of varying backgrounds in order to assess the needs of the department.
2. Ability to coordinate work in order to complete duties in an accurate and timely fashion.
3. Ability to interpret and apply sterile processing/infection prevention regulations and policies.
4. Ability to evaluate new products and equipment.
5. Ability to initiate and lead interdisciplinary groups in carrying out sterile processing functions.

Preferred Experience:

• Sterile Processing Experience
• Experience in drafting policies and protocols
• Computer Skills, including Microsoft Word and Excel

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-7.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service

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/.

• 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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.