** Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (Biomedical Information Systems)**

**Department of Veterans Affairs**

** South Texas Health Care System**

**Location**

2 vacancies in the following location:

** Relocation expenses reimbursed**

No

** Telework eligible**

No

**Duties**

** 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

**Responsibilities**

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 health service delivery systems for communities and within individual VA facilities (medical centers, outpatient clinics, and domiciliaries). Lifecycle management encompasses the following: technology assessment including defining requirements and analyzing alternatives with clinical users; technology acquisition including technical evaluation and best value determination of proposed equipment and systems; technology implementation including site preparation, incoming inspections, device/system integration, network device security implementation and clinical/technical training; technology sustainment including regular and unscheduled maintenance, upgrades and enhancements, continuing education; end of useful life tasks including decommissioning, data sanitization, and technical evaluation for condition prior to disposal; and strategic planning for end of life replacement in conjunction with clinical services. The BESS maintains networks, networked medical equipment and associated systems using established local, regional and national policies and procedures designed to meet criteria and standards from multiple accrediting agencies and governing bodies.

Management of network equipment including but not limited to network switches, servers, routers and related infrastructure for any and all networked complex medical devices and systems such as imaging, life support, dialysis, and monitoring

Complete both routine and complex 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

Coordinate and work effectively with other facility support departments including but not limited to Facilities Management Service (FMS), Office of Information Technology (OIT), Sterile Processing Service (SPS), and Environmental Management Service (EMS)

Utilize advanced network test equipment and software including but not limited to tracers, wireless spectrum analyzers, network traffic monitors, command prompt, physical and virtual server software

Troubleshoot and maintain complete systems of computerized networks, databases and servers including but not limited to biomedical information systems that store or facilitate patient information

Implement and plan for new and emerging technologies including but not limited to diagnostic modalities, network management and storage, and virtual data centers

Design, implement and manage network incident response due to infection, loss of service or regional and local policy changes according to VA guidelines

Ensure proper security configuration for assigned devices and networks

Regularly review and install available approved software updates and virus definitions for applicable networked medical devices

Lead development of disaster recovery procedures for critical systems to be enacted in the event of device failure

Responsible for lifecycle management of any and all medical devices and systems such as imaging, life support, dialysis, and monitoring to include physical and network support Complete both routine and complex assignments involved in the installation, maintenance, modification, troubleshooting, repair and calibration of these complex therapeutic, diagnostic and life support medical devices and systems

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

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

Function as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and keep appropriate certification levels

Investigate, remediate and document recalls and safety alerts within established timeframes

Identify hazards during routine job performance and take action to ensure they are addressed and corrected

Provide training and education as appropriate to medical technology end users and clinical staff **Work Schedule:** Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, with occasional weekend work.

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

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

** Supervisory status**

No

** Promotion Potential**

None

**Requirements**

** Conditions of Employment**

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job

Designated and/or random drug testing may be required

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 ** 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 effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education that is part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements 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) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.

(2) BESSs who are appointed on a temporary basis