Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

The Richmond VA Medical Center seeks qualified Biomedical Equipment Support Specialists (BESS) within the Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) department to troubleshoot, repair and perform planned maintenance on a range of medical devices and clinical systems.

These roles support the medical equipment management program, with duties including lifecycle management, CMMS documentation, customer support, and adherence to applicable standards and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• Associates or higher degree in biomedical technology or biomedical engineering
• OR Associates or higher degree in electronics/information technology/engineering with 1 year 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 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
• Hold or having ever held certification as a CBET/CRES/CLES/CHTM
• Continuous maintenance of certification is not required throughout VA employment
• English Language Proficiency

Responsibilities

• Assists in lifecycle management of medical equipment and clinical systems
• Troubleshoots medical equipment and clinical systems using a variety of technical data and completes corrective action
• Performs planned maintenance on medical equipment and clinical systems
• Assists with incoming inspections on medical equipment and clinical systems
• Documents all work in the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS)
• Assists with remediation and documentation of hazard alerts and recall notifications concerning medical equipment impacting the facility
• Provides customer support to staff - evaluates issues and needs - responds with solutions - and keeps customers abreast of status
• Complies with applicable standards - policies - procedures - and regulatory requirements
• Spends time learning from more experienced BESS and/or Biomedical Engineers to develop skills
• Utilizes basic networking concepts with medical devices and clinical systems
• Utilizes test equipment per manufacturer instructions
• All other duties as assigned

Skills

Troubleshooting

Repair

Electrical testing

Networking concepts

Documentation in CMMS

Medical equipment knowledge

Education

Associates or higher degree in biomedical technology or biomedical engineering

Associates or higher degree in electronics/IT/engineering (non-biomedical) with 1 year creditable experience

DOD BME training or HTM certificate with internship

Tools

Multi-meters

Electrical safety analyzers

Patient simulators

Storage oscilloscopes

Manometers

Tachometers

Job description

Summary

The Richmond VA Medical Center is seeking qualified candidates to serve as Biomedical Equipment Support Specialists (BESS) within a Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) department. The incumbent works in support of the medical equipment management program. The selected BESSs will troubleshoot - repair and perform planned maintenance on a range of medical devices and clinical systems.

Summary

The Richmond VA Medical Center is seeking qualified candidates to serve as Biomedical Equipment Support Specialists (BESS) within a Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) department. The incumbent works in support of the medical equipment management program. The selected BESSs will troubleshoot - repair and perform planned maintenance on a range of medical devices and clinical systems.

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
• 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
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.
• 7403(f)
• 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)
• Grandfathering Provision
• Employees in VHA in this occupation - under a permanent - appropriate - and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and assignment held including positive education and certification
• For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment-specific requirements in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed - the following provisions apply: Employees may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation - but they may not be promoted beyond the journey level or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified
• Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist - GS-05
• Experience or Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist - GS-07
• Experience
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - 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
• Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist - GS-09
• Experience
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - 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
• Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist - GS-11
• Experience
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - 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 - 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-05 to GS-11
• 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 2 shoulder
• Both legs required
• Kneeling (up to 3 hours)
• Depth perception
• Ability to distinguish shades of colors
• Hearing (aid permitted)
• Emotional/Mental Stability.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: Assists in lifecycle management of medical equipment and clinical systems
• Troubleshoots medical equipment and clinical systems using a variety of technical data and completes corrective action
• Performs planned maintenance on medical equipment and clinical systems
• Assists with incoming inspections on medical equipment and clinical systems
• Documents all work in the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS)
• Assists with remediation and documentation of hazard alerts and recall notifications concerning medical equipment impacting the facility
• Provides customer support to staff - evaluates issues and needs - responds with solutions - and keeps customers abreast of status
• Complies with applicable standards - policies - procedures - and regulatory requirements
• Spends a significant amount of time working with more experienced BESS and/or Biomedical Engineers to learn and develop technical and professional skills and knowledge
• Utilizes basic networking concepts - such as computer and server hardware and software used in conjunction with medical devices and clinical systems
• Utilizes test equipment in accordance with manufacturer instructions
• All other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: 0730-1600 or 1530-1200 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized