Medical Instrument Technician (Surgical Technologist) - GS-0649-08

Surgical Technologist

This position is located at the A.T. Augusta Military Medical Center, Fort Belvoir, VA.

This position provides direct surgical support of a highly specialized nature to patients undergoing surgery including the newest and most complex, state-of-the-art procedures in multi-specialties.

Fort Belvoir is a United States Army base located on 8,656 acres along the Potomac River in Fairfax County, VA. It encompasses a population of 47,000 and is well-positioned a mere 12 miles south of Washington, DC.

A.T. Augusta Military Medical Center is a Department of Defense medical facility located on Fort Belvoir, Virginia, outside of Washington D.C. In conjunction with Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Belvoir provides the Military Health System medical capabilities of the National Capital Region Medical Directorate (NCR MD), a joint unit providing comprehensive care to members of the United States Armed Forces located in the capital area, and their families. The facility is located on a U.S. Army installation but operates as one of the first joint service medical facilities in the U.S. military, staffed with uniformed medical personnel from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The hospital is one of the largest medical facilities in Northern Virginia and provides all levels of inpatient and outpatient medical care. The facility maintains a 24-hour emergency department but, like most U.S. military hospitals, transfers patients in need of a trauma center to equipped civilian medical facilities. As part of federal emergency planning in the National Capitol Region, the hospital is also tasked with maintaining unique capabilities to support continuity of government operations in the event of crisis.

The $1.03 billion, 1.3 million-square-foot facility opened in August 2011, replacing Fort Belvoir's existing medical facility, DeWitt Army Community Hospital, and integrating significant portions of the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., in accordance with 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Act. In addition to its primary facility at Fort Belvoir, the hospital also operates the DiLorenzo TRICARE Health Clinic (DTHC) at the Pentagon and satellite health centers in Fairfax and Dumfries, Virginia.

Working for the Department of Defense comes with an abundance of benefits and perks to include competitive compensation packages, paid time off, medical benefits, student loan repayments, and retirement package with Thrift Savings Plan to include matching employer contributions.

Who May Apply: US Citizen

This is a Direct Hire Solicitation

Responsibilities

As a Medical Instrument Technician (Surgical Technologist) you will:

• Check patient's chart, surgical consent, and identification band for completeness.
• Assist in positioning of patients for procedures, ensuring the patient has been correctly prepared for surgery.
• Perform sponge, needle and sharps count during various periods of all surgical procedures.
• Obtain sterile supplies, equipment, positioning devices, instrumentation, sutures, sponges, dressing, linens, etc., for specific procedures.
• Ensure the availability of equipment, instruments, and supplies for surgical procedures.
• Pass instruments and equipment to the surgeon during surgical procedures by anticipating the surgeon's needs.
• Have a working knowledge of the surgical scheduling system (S3) to be able to schedule surgeries and pull reports when needed.
• Prepare a patient for surgery; arrange Operating Room (OR) equipment, instruments, and supplies accord to the preference of the surgeons and nurses.
• Select, assemble, and organize required supplies (setup, connect, test, operate drills, saws, etc.) and instruments for surgical procedure.
• Work as an integral part of the healthcare team alongside surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, and other personnel before, during and after surgery.
• Provide direct surgical support of a highly specialized nature to patients undergoing surgery including the newest and most complex, state-of-the-art procedures in multi-specialties.
• After the operation, apply dressings and prepare the OR for the next case.
• Performs Other Duties as Assigned

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

One year of specialized experience which includes assisting surgical providers in a variety of procedures; and maintaining various surgical equipment or instruments before, during, or after the operation. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07).

One and a half years of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as Biomedical Technology, Surgical Technology, or Cardiovascular Technology.

A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of hours of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total semester hours minus 18) by 9. Add the two percentages.

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: