Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist
Washington, DC
$55.2k - $131.5k/year
Full-time
Onsite
1 month ago
About the role
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:
Duties
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-05: (1) Experience or Education
- None beyond the basic requirements
- (2) Assignment
- 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
- Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist - GS-07: (1) Experience
- One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade
- (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-5 to GS-11.
Duties
- 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
Skills
Government AdministrationHealth Care Provider