What are the responsibilities and job description for the Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist position at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?
Summary
The Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) provides clinical and administrative support to staff - patients - and administrators for all matters of concern relating to the facility wide lifecycle management of medical equipment.
Qualifications
Basic Requirements:
The Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) provides clinical and administrative support to staff - patients - and administrators for all matters of concern relating to the facility wide lifecycle management of medical equipment.
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
- Physical Requirements
- Heavy Lifting (45 lbs
- and over)
- Heavy Carrying (45 lbs
- and over)
- Straight Pulling (up to 1 hour)
- Pushing (1 - 2 hours)
- Reaching above shoulder
- Both legs required
- Kneeling (up to 3 hours)
- Depth perception
- Ability to distinguish shades of colors
- Hearing (aid permitted)
- Emotional/Mental Stability
- English Language Proficiency
- Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.
- 7403(f)
- Creditable Experience
- To be creditable - the experience must have required the use of knowledge - skills - and abilities associated with current health care industry and required using knowledge - skills - and abilities (KSAs) directly applicable to the assignment and associated within the scope of the BESS profession
- Experience is only creditable if it was acquired in the health care industry and is either directly related to the position to be filled or a related field (for example - Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist - Biomedical Equipment Technician - Field Service Engineer - Medical Equipment Repairer - or Information Technology (IT) Specialist)
- Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid or non-paid employment as a BESS
- Grade Determinations: Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist - GS-07: (1) Experience
- One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade
- (GS-05 Experience: Employees at this grade level serve as entry-level developmental BESSs
- It is expected that they receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require regular supervision
- BESSs at this grade level perform basic tasks designed to prepare them for promotion
- They troubleshoot and perform planned maintenance on general medical equipment
- Entry-level BESSs assist with incoming inspections and documentation.) (2) Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
- In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of physics - anatomy - and physiology
- (b) Knowledge of electronics such as analog - digital - and microprocessor theory
- (c) Knowledge of the use of standard level test equipment such as multi- meters - electrical safety analyzers - patient simulators - storage oscilloscopes - manometers - and tachometers
- (d) Knowledge 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)
- (e) Skill in documenting all services provided in support of medical equipment and clinical systems in a computerized maintenance management system
- (f) Ability to learn equipment operating and maintenance procedures
- Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist - GS-09: (1) Experience
- One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade
- (GS-07 Experience: Employees at this grade level serve as developmental BESSs performing an increasing range of duties - under less frequent supervision - but receive guidance and direction regarding unfamiliar or unusual situations for more complex issues designed to prepare them for promotion
- They troubleshoot and perform planned maintenance on general medical equipment
- Developmental-level BESSs assist with incoming inspections and documentation.) (2) Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
- In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of basic networking concepts including Access Control List (ACL) - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) - and Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN)
- (b) Knowledge of computer and server hardware and software functionality including virus protection - operating system patches and upgrades - and information security tools
- (c) Ability to interpret a variety of technical data such as schematic drawings - wiring diagrams - table charts - mathematical expressions - and formulas
- (d) Ability to use standard level test equipment including multi-meters - electrical safety analyzers - patient simulators - storage oscilloscopes - manometers - and tachometers
- (e) Ability to perform equipment maintenance and operating procedures
- Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist - GS-11: (1) Experience
- One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade
- (GS-09 Experience: Employees at this grade level serve as a developmental BESS performing increasingly more complex tasks designed to prepare them to work independently at the full performance level
- They troubleshoot and perform planned maintenance on medical equipment
- Developmental-level BESSs assist with incoming inspections and documentation
- BESSs in this assignment receive increasingly less frequent supervision - direction - or guidance from more experienced staff members.)(2) Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
- In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) 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 systems
- (b) Skill in using test and calibration equipment including digital multi- meters - electrical safety analyzers - defibrillator analyzers - patient simulators - manometers - tachometers - and Local Area Network (LAN) analyzers
- (c) Skill in interpreting a variety of technical data including schematic drawings and wiring diagrams
- (d) Skill in applying networking principles - such as Access Control List (ACL) - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) - and Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN)
- (e) Ability to perform advanced testing to troubleshoot medical equipment and clinical system interfaces
- (f) Ability to maintain medical computers and software
- (g) Ability to manage projects involving medical equipment and clinical systems
- Preferred Experience: Certification as a Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET) - CompTIA Net - and CompTIA A Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
- The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 to GS-11.
- Major Duties: Assisting in lifecycle management of medical equipment and clinical systems
- Troubleshooting medical equipment and clinical systems using a variety of technical data and completes corrective action
- Performing planned maintenance on medical equipment and clinical systems
- Assisting with incoming inspections on medical equipment and clinical systems
- Documenting all work in the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS)
- Assisting with remediation and documentation of hazard alerts and recall notifications concerning medical equipment impacting the facility
- Providing customer support to staff - evaluating issues and needs - responds with solutions - and keeps customers abreast of status
- Compiling with applicable standards - policies - procedures - and regulatory requirements
- Spending a significant amount of time working with more experienced BESS and/or Biomedical Engineers to learn and develop technical and professional skills and knowledge
- Utilizing basic networking concepts - such as computer and server hardware and software used in conjunction with medical devices and clinical systems
- Utilizing test equipment in accordance with manufacturer instructions
- Educating staff on safe operation and user-level maintenance of medical equipment and clinical systems
- Managing the lifecycle of medical equipment and clinical systems
- Performing incoming inspections and planned maintenance on medical equipment and clinical systems
- Responding to and remediates hazard alerts - recall notifications - and incidents concerning medical equipment and clinical systems
- Documents all actions in the appropriate system
- Monitoring system backups - ensuring network connectivity - mitigates cybersecurity vulnerabilities - and maintains clinical systems
- Utilizing test equipment in accordance with manufacturer instructions
- Managing projects involving medical equipment and clinical systems
- Serving as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and/or purchase card holder
- Developing documentation to purchase commodities and/or vendor services
- Manages - monitors - and evaluates contractor performance and addresses issues or deficiencies
- Compiling with applicable standards - policies - procedures - and regulatory requirements
- Providing guidance and mentorship to expand professional knowledge and enhance technical skillsets
- Maintaining and enhancing knowledge in technological advancements through professional development and technical training
- Work Schedule: 8:30am - 5:00pm or 9:30am - 6:00pm - Monday-Friday Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Functional Statement #: 25026F - 25027F - 25028F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Salary : $68,345 - $131,498