Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist

Full Job Description

The Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) provides clinical and administrative support to staff, patients, and administrators for matters relating to the lifecycle management of medical equipment.

Biomedical support requires the application of engineering and mechanical concepts and methodology to provide lifecycle management and technical support of diagnostic, therapeutic devices, monitoring, and other equipment utilized in the practice of medicine, and to improve clinical care.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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.

English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Education, Experience, or Certification: (1) Associates or higher degree in the biomedical technology or biomedical engineering field; OR (2) Associates or higher degree in electronics, a field of information technology, or engineering (other than biomedical engineering) AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR (3) Completion of the Department of Defense (DOD) biomedical equipment technician training program; OR (4) Completion of a DOD training program in repair and maintenance of electronic systems or information technology AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR (5) Completion of a biomedical engineering technician or Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) certificate program that included an internship or apprenticeship; OR (6) Completion of biomedical engineering technician or HTM certificate program that did not include an internship AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR (7) Hold or having ever held certification as a Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET), Certified Radiology Equipment Specialist (CRES), Certified Laboratory Equipment Specialist (CLES), or Certified Healthcare Technology Manager (CHTM).

Continuous maintenance of certification is not required throughout VHA employment.

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).

Grade Determinations: GS-07: Do you possess one (1) year of specialized experience which equipped you with the knowledge, skill, and abilities to perform the duties of the position?

To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower level in Federal service (GS-05).

Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: Troubleshooting and performing planned maintenance on general medical equipment.

Assisting with incoming inspections and documentation. Knowledge of physics, anatomy, and physiology. Knowledge of electronics such as analog, digital, and microprocessor theory.

Knowledge of the use of standard level test equipment such as multimeters, electrical safety analyzers, patient simulators, storage oscilloscopes, manometers, and tachometers.

Knowledge of basic networking concepts, such as computer and server hardware and software functionality, information technologies and computer virus protection software, available software patches and upgrades, and information security tools (for example, Microsoft Office, Windows operating systems, and McAfee).

Skill in documenting all services provided in support of medical equipment and clinical systems in a computerized maintenance management system.

Ability to learn equipment operating and maintenance procedures.

GS-09: Do you possess one (1) year of specialized experience which equipped you with the knowledge, skill, and abilities to perform the duties of the position?

To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower level in Federal service (GS-07).

Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of basic networking concepts including Access Control List (ACL), Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN).

Knowledge of computer and server hardware and software functionality including virus protection, operating system patches and upgrades, and information security tools.

Ability to interpret a variety of technical data such as schematic drawings, wiring diagrams, table charts, mathematical expressions, and formulas.

Ability to use standard level test equipment including multi-meters, electrical safety analyzers, patient simulators, storage oscilloscopes, manometers, and tachometers.

Ability to perform equipment maintenance and operating procedures.

GS-11: Do you possess one (1) year of specialized experience which equipped you with the knowledge, skill, and abilities to perform the duties of the position?

To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower level in Federal service (GS-09).

Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of standards including National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Joint Commission (TJC), and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) for safe operation of medical equipment and clinical systems.

Skill in using test and calibration equipment including digital multimeters, electrical safety analyzers, defibrillator analyzers, patient simulators, manometers, tachometers, and Local Area Network (LAN) analyzers.

Skill in interpreting a variety of technical data including schematic drawings and wiring diagrams.

Skill in applying networking principles, such as Access Control List (ACL), Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN).

Ability to perform advanced testing to troubleshoot medical equipment and clinical system interfaces. Ability to maintain medical computers and software.

Ability to manage projects involving medical equipment and clinical systems. NOTE: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.

Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

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-11.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-11 Major Duties:

Lifecycle management of all medical systems such as imaging, life support, dialysis, and monitoring to include physical and network support.

Coordinates and works effectively with other facility support departments including but not limited to Facilities Management Service (FMS), Office of Information Technology (OIT), Patient Safety, Sterile Processing Service (SPS), Logistics, Contracting, Informatics, and Environmental Management Service (EMS).

Specific tasks include but are not limited to incoming inspections, regular and unscheduled maintenance, and planning for end-of-life replacement in conjunction with clinical services.

Utilizes common test equipment including, but not limited to patient simulators, pulse generators, network analyzers, test phantoms, electrical safety analyzers, oscilloscopes, and multimeters.

Maintains functional knowledge of relevant safety codes and standards of regulatory bodies including, but not limited to, The Joint Commission (TJC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI).

Documents all work performed in the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).

This documentation is completed in accordance with regulatory body requirements, the Office of Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) Documentation of Services policies and guidelines, and other VA requirements.

Applies basic networking principles to resolve medical system communication issues including, but not limited to, node to server failures.

Adheres to VA Medical Device Cyber Security policies and procedures in pre-procurement, during system implementation, and throughout the life of the system.

Loads operating system (OS) and clinical application software as needed. Executes VA policy when responding to network incident response (due to infection, loss of services due to policy changes).

As assigned, functions as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and keeps appropriate certification levels.

Uses knowledge of government contract procedures and documentation requirements to develop statements of work, sole source justifications, other applicable documentation (VA Form 6550, Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE), etc.) and to oversee vendor work.

Collaborates with Logistics and Contracting to procure parts and services; functions as a purchase card holder, as required.

Investigates, remediates, and documents Repairable Medical Device (RMD) recalls and safety alerts issued through the VA Alerts and Recall Management System (ARMS) within established timeframes.

Participates in local safety improvement processes such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA), safety work groups, and Environment of Care Rounds.

Identifies hazards during routine job performance and takes action to ensure they are addressed and corrected.

Maintains knowledge of the state of the art in medical technology, including scientific advances, network protocols, and vendor changes.

Focuses on professional development in all areas of medical technology lifecycle management including technical skills.

Knowledge and training is obtained from formal (conference, vendor-provided classes) or informal (magazines, articles, peer training) means.

Provides training and education as appropriate to medical technology end users and clinical staff. Provides mentoring and technical training to peers and BESS at developmental levels.

May be tasked with leading and managing installation or upgrade projects for medical devices and systems.

This includes but is not limited to pre-implementation planning and coordination with end users, vendors, and other onsite support staff (OIT, Informatics, SPS, etc.) Additional duties are performed as assigned by supervisor related to maintenance, remediation, and tracking of medical systems (action items, special projects, etc.) to meet mission critical requirements.

May be asked to assist in other administrative duties as well, including participating in hiring panels.

Represents Biomedical/Clinical Engineering department on committees and in meetings as delegated by supervisor.

Work Schedule: M-F 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Functional Statement #s: 593-00884-F???????, 593-00885-F???????, 593-00886-F???????, 593-00887-F