Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist

US Department of Veterans Affairs; Reno (NV); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

US Department of Veterans Affairs in the United States is seeking a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) to support the Healthcare Technology Management department. The role involves troubleshooting and performing planned maintenance on a wide range of medical devices and clinical systems.

Applicants may be referred if not meeting all requirements yet but must meet the basics later. The position emphasizes compliance with standards and the ability to work within a structured

Qualifications

• Associate or higher degree in biomedical technology/engineering.
• Alternate: associate degree in electronics/IT/engineering plus 1 year experience.
• Completion of DOD BME HTM training or related program.
• Certification such as CBET/CRES/CLES/CHTM acceptable.
• Transcript or certificate must be submitted to meet requirements.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoots and performs maintenance on medical devices and clinical systems.
• Supports the medical equipment management program within HTM.
• Adheres to VA qualification standards and grandfathering provisions.

Skills

Physics knowledge

Electronics theory

Networking concepts

Test equipment usage

CMMS documentation

Learning ability

Project management

Education

Biomedical technology/engineering degree

Electronics/IT/Engineering degree + 1 year experience

HTM/BME certificate with internship

Tools

Electrical safety analyzers

Multimeters

Patient simulators

Oscilloscopes

Tachometers

LAN analyzers

Job description

The Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) within a Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) department at a 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.
• 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, 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. Note: You must submit a copy of your transcript or certificate to meet the basic requirements.

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 for employment, the following criteria must be met.

GS-05 (Entry Level)

Experience or Education;None beyond basic requirements.

GS-07 (Developmental Level 1)

You must have One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-05). In addition to the experience, the candidate must demonstrate all of 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.

GS-09 (Developmental Level 2)

You must have One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-07). In addition to the experience, the candidate must demonstrate all of 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.

GS-11 (Full Performance Level)

You must have One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-09). In addition to the experience, the candidate must demonstrate all of 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, tachometers, and Local Area Network (LAN) analyzers.
• Skill in interpreting a variety of technical data including schematic drawings and wiring diagrams.
• Skill in applying networking principles, such as Access Control List (ACL), Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN).
• Ability to perform advanced testing to troubleshoot medical equipment and clinical system interfaces.
• Ability to maintain medical computers and software.
• Ability to manage projects involving medical equipment and clinical systems.

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.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.