Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) in Albuquerque, NM.

This role provides clinical and administrative support for lifecycle management of medical equipment across the facility, applying engineering concepts to service diagnostic and monitoring devices. Qualified candidates will have an associates or higher degree in biomedical tech/engineering or an equivalent certification/program.

Qualifications

• Associates or higher degree in biomedical technology, or biomedical engineering, or related fields.
• Certifications such as CBET, CRES, CLES, or CHTM may satisfy qualifications.
• DOD biomedical equipment technician training or equivalent program considered for eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates with facility support departments (FMS, OIT, Patient Safety, SPS, Logistics, Contracting, Informatics, EMS).
• Maintains knowledge of safety standards from NFPA, FDA, TJC, and AAMI.
• Documents all work in CMMS and maintains equipment records.
• Resolves medical system communication issues; applies basic networking principles.
• Acts as a COR and maintains certification levels as required.
• Investigates and documents recalls and safety alerts within timeframes.
• Provides training to end users and clinical staff.

Skills

Knowledge of safety standards

Medical equipment troubleshooting

Networking concepts (ACL TCP/IP VLAN)

Project management

Documentation in CMMS

Training & education

Valid driver's license

Education

Associates or higher degree in biomedical technology or biomedical engineering

Certification: CBET, CRES, CLES, or CH_TM

DOD biomedical equipment technician training

Tools

Digital multimeters

Electrical safety analyzers

Defibrillator analyzers

Patient simulators

Manometers

Tachometers

LAN analyzers

Job description

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.

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.

Qualifications

• 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
• See Chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a
• Education - Experience - or Certification: Associates or higher degree in the biomedical technology or biomedical engineering field
• OR Associates or higher degree in electronics - a field of information technology - or engineering (other than biomedical engineering) AND 1 year of creditable experience
• OR Completion of the Department of Defense (DOD) biomedical equipment technician training program
• OR Completion of a DOD training program in repair and maintenance of electronic systems or information technology AND 1 year of creditable experience
• OR Completion of a biomedical engineering technician or Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) certificate program that included an internship or apprenticeship
• OR Completion of biomedical engineering technician or HTM certificate program that did not include an internship AND 1 year of creditable experience
• OR 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
• 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: Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist - GS-11
• (1) Experience
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade - GS-9. (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.7 (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
• A valid State driver's license is required
• A safe driving record is required
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Duties

• Major duties include: Coordinates and works with other facility support departments including but not limited to Facilities Management Service (FMS) - Office of Information Technology (OIT) - Patient Safety - Sterile Processing Service (SPS) - Logistics - Contracting - Informatics - and Environmental Management Service (EMS)
• 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)
• Documents all work performed in the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS)
• Applies basic networking principles to resolve medical system communication issues including - but not limited to - node to server failures
• Functions as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and keeps appropriate certification levels
• Investigates - remediates and documents Repairable Medical Device (RMD) recalls and safety alerts issued through the VA Alerts and Recall Management System (ARMS) within established timeframes
• Maintains knowledge of the state of the art in medical technology - including scientific advances - network protocols - and vendor changes
• Provides training and education as appropriate to medical technology end users and clinical staff
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized