Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist

Veterans Health Administration; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration's Ann Arbor VA facility seeks a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) to support the Healthcare Technology Management department. The role involves troubleshooting and performing planned maintenance on a range of medical devices and clinical systems to ensure safe, reliable operation.

Applicants may be tentatively selected while meeting education or certification requirements; final hire pending completion.

Qualifications

• Associates or higher in biomedical tech or related field, or equivalent per basic requirements.
• English proficiency for patient-care role, per VA policy.
• Various certification options include CBET, CRES, CLES, or CHTM.

Responsibilities

• Supports the medical equipment management program within HTM.
• Troubleshoots and performs planned maintenance on medical devices and clinical systems.

Skills

Hardware troubleshooting

Maintenance scheduling

Documentation in CMMS

Electrical safety

Network basics

Education

Associates or higher in biomedical technology or related field

DOD BME/HTM program completion

CBET/CRES/CLES/CHTM certification

Tools

Multimeters

Electrical safety analyzers

Patient simulators

Oscilloscopes

Networking knowledge (TCP/IP)

Job description

Serves as a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) within a Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) department at the Ann Arbor VA facility.

Works in support of the medical equipment management program. Troubleshoots and performs planned maintenance on a range of medical devices and clinical systems.

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.
• 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.
• 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.

Physical Requirements:

• Listed below in accordance with VA DIRECTIVE 5019 Grade Determinations: To qualify for the GS-5 grade level, you must meet the above listed basic qualification for this occupational series to include qualifying based on education, experience, or a combination of education and experience.
• To qualify for the GS-7 grade level, one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of physics, anatomy, and physiology. Knowledge of electronics such as analog, digital, and microprocessor theory. Knowledge of the use of standard level test equipment such as multi-meters, electrical safety analyzers, patient simulators, storage oscilloscopes, manometers, and tachometers. 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). Skill in documenting all services provided in support of medical equipment and clinical systems in a computerized maintenance management system. Ability to learn equipment operating and maintenance procedures.
• To qualify for the GS-9 grade level, one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of basic networking concepts including Access Control List (ACL), Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN). Knowledge of computer and server hardware and software functionality including virus protection, operating system patches and upgrades, and information security tools. Ability to interpret a variety of technical data such as schematic drawings, wiring diagrams, table charts, mathematical expressions, and formulas. Ability to use standard level test equipment including multi-meters, electrical safety analyzers, patient simulators, storage oscilloscopes, manometers, and tachometers. Ability to perform equipment maintenance and operating procedures.
• To qualify for the GS-11 grade level, one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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. Skill in using test and calibration equipment including digital multi-meters, electrical safety analyzers, defibrillator analyzers, patient simulators, manometers, tac