Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist

Summary The Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) serves within Clinical Engineering/Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) and supports the lifecycle management of medical equipment and clinical systems used throughout the healthcare facility. Qualifications 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 PolicyEducation - Experience - or CertificationAssociates or higher degree in the biomedical technology or biomedical engineering fieldOR Associates or higher degree in electronics - a field of information technology - or engineering (other than biomedical engineering) AND 1 year of creditable experienceOR Completion of the Department of Defense (DOD) biomedical equipment technician training programOR Completion of a DOD training program in repair and maintenance of electronic systems or information technology AND 1 year of creditable experienceOR Completion of a biomedical engineering technician or Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) certificate program that included an internship or apprenticeshipOR Completion of biomedical engineering technician or HTM certificate program that did not include an internship AND 1 year of creditable experienceOR 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 employmentEnglish Language ProficiencyCandidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.7403(f).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: Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist - GS-05: Experience or EducationNone beyond the basic requirementsBiomedical Equipment Support Specialist - GS-07: ExperienceOne year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower gradeKnowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of physics - anatomy - and physiologyKnowledge of electronics such as analog - digital - and microprocessor theoryKnowledge of the use of standard level test equipment such as multi-meters - electrical safety analyzers - patient simulators - storage oscilloscopes - manometers - and tachometersKnowledge 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 systemAbility to learn equipment operating and maintenance procedures Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist - GS-09: ExperienceOne year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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 toolsAbility to interpret a variety of technical data such as schematic drawings - wiring diagrams - table charts - mathematical expressions - and formulasAbility to use standard level test equipment including multi-meters - electrical safety analyzers - patient simulators - storage oscilloscopes - manometers - and tachometersAbility to perform equipment maintenance and operating procedures Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist - GS-11: ExperienceOne year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower gradeKnowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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 systemsSkill in using test and calibration equipment including digital multi-meters - electrical safety analyzers - defibrillator analyzers - patient simulators - manometers - tachometers - and Local Area Network (LAN) analyzersSkill in interpreting a variety of technical data including schematic drawings and wiring diagramsSkill 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 interfacesAbility to maintain medical computers and softwareAbility to manage projects involving medical equipment and clinical systemsMay 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)Preferred Experience: Experience performing medical device maintenance and repair in a hospital or healthcare environmentReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-11Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. Duties The Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist performs duties in support of the medical equipment management programDuties increase in complexity and independence as the employee progresses through the developmental levels to the full-performance levelMajor duties include but are not limited to: Assists with and - at the full-performance level - manages the lifecycle of medical equipment and clinical systems - including acquisition - implementation - maintenance - upgrades - and dispositionTroubleshoots medical equipment and clinical systems using technical data and performs appropriate corrective actionsPerforms planned maintenance and incoming inspections of medical equipment and clinical systemsDocuments maintenance - repairs - inspections - and other work activities in the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS)Assists with or responds to hazard alerts - recalls - and incidents involving medical equipment and clinical systems and documents corrective actionsUtilizes networking concepts and supports computer hardware - server hardware - software - and network connectivity associated with medical devices and clinical systemsUses test equipment in accordance with manufacturer instructions and established proceduresProvides technical and customer support to clinical and administrative staff by evaluating equipment issues - identifying solutions - and communicating statusEducates staff regarding the safe operation and user-level maintenance of medical equipment and clinical systemsEnsures work is performed in accordance with applicable policies - procedures - regulatory requirements - and accreditation standardsAt higher developmental and full-performance levels - supports cybersecurity requirements - system backups - equipment projects - procurement activities - and vendor/contractor servicesAt the full-performance level - may serve as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and/or purchase card holder and provide technical guidance and mentorship to less experienced staffWork Schedule: Full TimeMonday - Friday8 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 14133F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized