Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist - Information Systems

Summary

Serves as a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) specialized in information systems within a Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) department at a VA facility. Works in support of the medical equipment management program. In addition to duties at the full performance level - the BESS maintains medical servers and networks - diagnostic software - virtual platforms - and clinical applications software.

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
• 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
• Foreign Education
• To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.
• 7403(f)
• Grade Determinations: Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (Information Systems) - GS-12 Experience
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical 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
• A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
  
  

Duties

• Manages and maintains medical servers and networks - diagnostic software - virtual platforms - and clinical applications software
• Manages projects involving medical equipment and clinical systems - to include procurement - installation - and maintenance
• Manages hardware components of virtual servers - physical servers - and medical workstations
• Facilitates operating system updates - upgrades - and virus protection
• Identifies - troubleshoots - and completes corrective action for issues related to networked medical equipment and clinical systems
• Evaluates compatibility and adaptability of medical equipment and clinical systems to integrate with the electronic health record or other clinical systems
• Reviews - coordinates - and implements available software patches - updates - and system/data backups with staff and manufacturers
• Coordinates - implements - and manages cybersecurity measures and disaster recovery plans
• Responds to - investigates - and documents cybersecurity incidents involving medical equipment and clinical systems
• Responds to and remediates hazard alerts - recall notifications - and incidents concerning medical equipment and clinical systems
• Documents all actions in the appropriate system
• Monitors cybersecurity metrics - and initiates corrective action to address deficiencies
• Complies with the facility's medical device protection program
• Ensures networked medical equipment and clinical systems are inventoried in the appropriate database
• Serves as a subject matter expert on assigned committees - projects - and workgroups
• Manages the lifecycle of medical equipment and clinical systems
• Troubleshoots medical equipment and clinical systems using a variety of technical data and completes corrective action
• Performs incoming inspections and planned maintenance on medical equipment and clinical systems
• Documents all work in the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS)
• Utilizes test equipment in accordance with manufacturer instructions
• Provides customer support to staff - evaluates issues and needs - responds with solutions - and keeps customers abreast of status
• Educates staff on the safe operation and user-level maintenance of medical equipment and clinical systems
• Serves as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and/or purchase card holder
• Develops documentation to purchase commodities and/or vendor services
• Manages - monitors - and evaluates contractor performance and addresses issues or deficiencies
• Complies with applicable standards - policies - procedures - and regulatory requirements
• Provides guidance and mentorship to expand professional knowledge and enhance technical skillsets
• Maintains and enhances knowledge in technological advancements through professional development and technical training
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday
• 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 606590 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized