** Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist**

**Department of Veterans Affairs**

** Louisville VAMC**

**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. 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.

**Location**

1 vacancy in the following location:

**Duties**

Medical equipment supported by the BESS is maintained to the standards required by multiple accrediting agencies (e.g. Food and Drug Administration, The Joint Commission, the National Fire Protection Association, etc.).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 incumbent's duties include, but are not limited to:

* Lifecycle management of all medical systems such as imaging, life support, dialysis, and monitoring to include physical and network support.

* Coordinate and work effectively with other facility support departments.

* Maintain functional knowledge of relevant safety codes and standards of regulatory bodies.

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

* Apply basic networking principles to resolve medical system communication issues.

* Function as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and maintain appropriate certification levels.

* Investigate, remediate and document Repairable Medical Device (RMD) recalls and safety alerts issued through the VA Alerts and Recall Management System (ARMS) within established timeframes.

* Maintain knowledge of the state of the art in medical technology.

* Provide training and education, as appropriate, to medical technology end users and clinical staff.

* Provide mentoring and technical training to peers and BESS at developmental levels.

* Assist with installation and/or upgrade projects for medical devices.

**Position Title/Functional Statement #**:Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist/PD52410A

**Relocation/Recruitment Incentives**: Not Authorized

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

**Work Schedule**: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm

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

* **Education/Experience:**

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

**OR** Completed 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.

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, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade.

**GS-5 (Entry Level)** - Applicants will need to meet the Basic Requirements listed above.

**GS-7:** Candidate's must have one year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level. Specialized Experience at this grade level includes **(a)** Ability to read, interpret, and apply a great variety of technical data such as schematic drawings, wiring diagrams, table charts, mathematical expressions and formulas; **(b)** Ability to learn equipment maintenance, operating procedures, and repair procedures from training materials and courses; **(c)** Fundamental knowledge of electronics to include analog, digital and microprocessor theory, pneumatics, hydraulics, optics, electro-mechanics, physics, basic networking, and chemistry; **(d)** Knowledge of the use of standard level test equipment to include, but not limited to, multi-meters, electrical safety analyzers, patient simulator, storage oscilloscopes, manometers, tachometers, etc; **(e)** Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, medical equipment, and technology; **(f)** Knowledge of basic networking, computer/server hardware/software and information technologies and computer virus protection software, available software patches and upgrades, and information security tools (i.e. Microsoft Office, Windows operating systems, McAfee, etc.).

**GS-9:** Candidate's must have one year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level. Specialized Experience at this level includes **(a)** Knowledge of electronics and electricity including analog and intermediate digital electronics to test, calibrate, maintain, and repair biomedical equipment and moderately complex biomedical instrumentation systems; **(b)** Skill in the setup and use of standard and advanced level test equipment to perform precise and detailed analysis of the operating and design characteristics of equipment and initiate repairs, reconfiguration, or redesign of moderately complex medical systems; **(c)** Skill in applying theory, concepts, techniques, design characteristics, operation, and functions to assist and support installation, operation, test, maintenance, repair, design, a