Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (Imaging)

Summary

The Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) (Imaging) provides clinical and administrative support to staff - patients - and administrators for all matters of concern relating to the facility wide lifecycle management of advanced imaging or radiological devices and other medical devices.

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 Policy
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74 - to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English
• See Chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this part
• Experience - Education - or Certification 1
• Associates degree in Biomedical Electronics Technology - Biomedical Equipment Technology
• ~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
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of Health Level 7 (HL7) and Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standards
• (b) Knowledge of advanced testing methods to troubleshoot networked medical equipment and clinical system interfaces
• (c) Skill in maintaining computer and server based medical equipment - databases - and software
• (d) Skill in managing medical equipment and clinical system projects that interface with an electronic health record or other information systems
• (e) Skill in applying cybersecurity standards to medical devices and clinical systems such as Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) - and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines
• (f) Ability to apply information security tools including virus protection - software updates - and operating system patches
• (g) Ability to establish a medical network including VLAN configuration - Internet Protocol addressing - and network security
• 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: In addition to the Basic Requirements - applicants must meet the following Grade Requirements for the GS-12 grade level: Applicants will need at least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Performs tasks requiring moderate physical exertion - including pushing - pulling - carrying - climbing - bending - stooping - crawling and negotiating confined spaces - as well as occasional lifting
• The incumbent is standing or walking much of the time and must be in good overall physical condition
• Physical capability to regularly walk long distances - dexterity and accurate hand-eye coordination - and corrected 20/20 vision and accurate depth perception are required.
  
  

Duties

• 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 domiciliary)
• The BESS (Imaging) maintains advanced imaging or radiological devices and other medical equipment using established local - regional and national policies and procedures designed to meet criteria and standards from multiple accrediting agencies and governing bodies
• Other duties include - but are not limited to: Lifecycle management of advanced imaging or radiological devices to include physical and network support
• Troubleshoots and maintains radiology information systems and interfaces and other experts
• Performs advanced testing and troubleshooting of advanced imaging or radiological devices involving their interfaces and connections to other medical devices or information systems either directly or through the facility's hardwired and wireless networks
• Responsible for lifecycle management of other medical devices and systems such as life support - dialysis - and monitoring to include physical and network support
• Maintains functional knowledge of relevant safety codes and standards of regulatory bodies Documents all work performed in the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS)
• Functions as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and keeps appropriate certification levels
• Investigates - remediates and documents recalls and safety alerts within established timeframes
• Maintains knowledge of the state of the art in medical technology - including scientific advances - network protocols - and vendor changes
• Provides training and education as appropriate to medical technology end users and clinical staff
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7am to 3:30pm - or 7:30am to 4pm - or 8am to 4:30pm
• Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
• Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 50821-F