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

**Department of Veterans Affairs**

** South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS)**

**Location**

2 vacancies in the following location:

** Relocation expenses reimbursed**

No

** Telework eligible**

No

**Duties**

** Summary**

The Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) Vocera Coordinator provides clinical and administrative support to staff, patients, and administrators for all matters of concern relating to the facility wide lifecycle management of advanced medical devices and software.

**Responsibilities**

The incumbent will participate in the development of clinical decision-support systems with Pharmacy and the Therapeutic Committee; the Medical Records Committee; the Clinical Executive Board; Program and develop Commercial Off the Shelf Software (COTS) and decision support systems; Assist with the Clinical Informatics oversight committees; Assist with the Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee; others as may be decided locally. Troubleshoots and maintains radiology information systems and interfaces (i.e. HL7, DICOM, TCP/IP). Coordinates and works effectively with other facility support departments including but no limited to Facilities Management Service (FMS), Office of Information Technology (OIT), Sterile Processing Service (SPS), and Environmental Management Service (EMS) with EHR alongside PACS Administrators, OIT, BESS (Biomedical Information Systems) and other experts. Manages these systems as assigned. 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. Adheres to Medical Device Isolation Architecture (MDIA) Guidelines in both pre-procurement and during system implementation, and system management. Loads operating system (OS) and clinical application software as needed. Executes VA guidelines when responding to network incident response (due to infection, loss of service or regional and local policy changes). As assigned, employee is responsible for lifecycle management of other medical devices and systems such as life support, dialysis, and monitoring to include physical and network support. Completes 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. Maintains functional knowledge of relevant safety codes and standards of regulatory bodies including but not limited to The Joint Commission (TJC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), American College of Radiology (ACR), Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH). Documents all work performed in the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS). This documentation is completed in accordance with regulatory body requirements, Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) Documentation of Services guidelines and other organizational requirements. Maintains required medical physicist reports and other device reports for all assigned imaging devices. As assigned, functions as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and keeps appropriate certification levels. Uses knowledge of government contract procedures and documentation requirements to develop statements of work, sole source justifications, other applicable documentation (6550, Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE), etc.) and oversee vendor work. Collaborates with Logistics and Contracting to procure parts and services; functions as a purchase card holder, as required. Investigates, remediates and documents recalls and safety alerts within established timeframes. Participates in local safety improvement processes such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA), safety work groups, and Environment of Care Rounds. Identifies hazards during routine job performance and takes action to ensure they are addressed and corrected. Maintains knowledge of the state of the art in medical technology, including scientific advances, network protocols, and vendor changes. May be required to attend lengthy training as many radiological imaging equipment courses can have a duration greater than one month. Provides mentoring and technical training to peers and developmental graded BESS. May be tasked with leading and managing installation or upgrade projects for advanced imaging or radiological devices and other medical devices and systems. Additional duties are performed as assigned by supervisor related to maintenance, remediation, and tracking of advanced imaging or radiological devices and other medical devices (action items, special projects, etc.) to meet mission critical requirements. May be asked to assist in other administrative duties as well, including such as participating in hiring panels or working on VISN/National initiatives as a technical expert. Represents Biomedical/Clinical Engineering department on committees and in meetings as delegated by supervisor.

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

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

**Travel Required**

Occasional travel - Occasional travel to outlying clinics and Kerrville Campus.

** 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**

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**: Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).

**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. 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).

**Preferred Experience**:

Preferred experience in application of engineering and mechanical concepts and methodology to provide lifecycle management and techn