** Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist**

**Department of Veterans Affairs**

** El Paso VA Health Care System**

**Summary**

The Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) (Biomedical Information Systems) provides clinical and administrative support to staff, patients, and administrators for all matters of concern relating to the facility wide lifecycle management of networks, networked medical equipment and associated systems.

**Location**

1 vacancy in the following location:

** Travel Required**

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel up to 10% for training and education for this position.

**Duties**

Lifecycle management of network equipment such as network switches, servers, routers and related infrastructure for any and all networked complex medical devices and systems. Completes assignments involved identifying and troubleshooting issues related to VLAN configuration, IP addressing, sub-netting, HL7, DICOM, Access Control List (ACL) and network security across the medical device network. Coordinates effectively with other facility support departments. Utilizes advanced network test equipment and software such as tracers, wireless spectrum analyzers, network traffic monitors, command prompt, physical and virtual server software.

- Manages, troubleshoots and maintains complete systems of computerized networks, databases and servers such as biomedical information systems that store or facilitate patient information. These systems include Picture Archiving Communication Systems (PACS), physiological monitoring systems, Clinical Information Systems (CIS), Anesthesia Record Keeping (ARK), and other systems for which Medical Device Isolation Architecture (MDIA) would apply.

- Implements and plans for new and emerging technologies such as diagnostic modalities, network management and storage, and virtual data centers.

- Designs, implements and manages network incident response due to infection, loss of service or regional and local policy changes according to VA guidelines. Ensures proper security configuration for assigned devices and networks. Reviews and installs available approved software updates and virus definitions. Leads development of disaster recovery procedures for critical systems to be enacted in the event of device failure. Adheres to MDIA Guidelines in both preprocurement and during system implementation. Loads operating system (OS) and clinical application software as needed.

- Responsible for lifecycle management of all medical devices and systems such as imaging, life support, dialysis, and monitoring including physical and network support. Completes both routine and complex assignments on installation, maintenance, modification, troubleshooting, repair and calibration of these complex therapeutic, diagnostic and life support medical devices and systems. Utilizes common test equipment such as electrical safety analyzers, oscilloscopes, patient simulators, pulse generators, network analyzers, and multimeters.

- Maintains functional knowledge of relevant safety codes and standards of regulatory bodies such as 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), American College of Radiology (ACR), Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS).

- Documents work performed in the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS). Maintains documentation of biomedical information systems covering ePHI requirements, VLAN, IP address, anti-virus software, security and other required information.

- May function as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and keeps appropriate certification levels. Knowledge of government contract procedures and documentation requirements such as statements of work, sole source justifications, other applicable documentation, 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 recalls and safety alerts 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.

- Knowledge of the state of the art in medical technology, such as scientific advances, network protocols, and vendor changes. Focus on professional development in all areas of medical technology lifecycle management including technical skills. Knowledge and training obtained from formal or informal means.

- Provides training and education as appropriate to medical technology end users and clinical staff.

- Provides mentoring and technical training to peers and development graded BESS.

- May be tasked with leading and managing installation or upgrade projects for biomedical information systems, backup servers, other communication systems and other medical devices and systems. Includes pre-implementation planning and coordination with end users, vendors, and other onsite support staff for CIS, ARK, Imaging communication and other biomedical information system projects.

**Work Schedule**: 8:00am to 4:45pm

**Telework**: Not Available

**Virtual:** This is not a virtual position.

**Position Title/Functional Statement #**:Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist/PD000000

**Relocation/Recruitment Incentives**: Not Authorized

**Permanent Change of Station (PCS):** Not Authorized

**Fi****nancial Disclosure Report:** Not required

**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

* You may be required to serve a probationary period

* Subject to a background/security investigation

* Must be proficient in written and spoken English

* Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

* 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 Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel

** 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.

* **English:** BESS appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with the VA Handbook.

* **Experience and Education.** Associates degree in Biomedical Electronics Technology, Biomedical Equipment Technology or Biomedical Engineering Technology or in a related technical field such as Electronic Technology or Information Technology **and** two years of experience as a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist, Biomedical Equipment Technician, Field Service Engineer, Medical Equipment Repairer, or Information Technology Specialist.

* **Or,**

* Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering Technology or in a related field such as Electronics Engineering Technology (EET) or Information Technology.

* **Or,**

* Completion of a military training program in biomedical equipment **and** two years of experience as a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist or Biomedical Equipment Technician, Field Service Engineer, Medical Equipment Repairer or Information Technology Specialist

* **Certification.** None

**Grandfathering Provision.** All persons employed in VHA as a BESS on the effec