Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist

Veterans Health Administration; Town of Texas (WI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Veterans Health Administration seeks a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) within the Central Alabama Veterans Healthcare System's Healthcare Technology Management department. The role troubleshoots and performs planned maintenance on medical devices and clinical systems under frequent supervision.

Applicants may be referred and tentatively selected while meeting education or certification requirements; however, employment may not start until all requirements are met.

Qualifications

• Ability to apply NFPA, FDA, TJC and AAMI standards for safe operation.
• Experience using test and calibration equipment for medical devices.
• Ability to read schematics and wiring diagrams for diagnostics.
• Knowledge of ACL, TCP/IP, and VLAN networking concepts.
• Capable of advanced testing to troubleshoot interfaces.
• Maintain medical computers and related software.
• Manage projects involving medical equipment and clinical systems.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoots and performs planned maintenance on medical devices and clinical systems.
• Supports HTM operations under supervision and guidance.
• Assists in equipment installation, calibration, and documentation.

Skills

NFPA standards knowledge

FDA standards knowledge

TJC standards knowledge

AAMI standards knowledge

Test and calibration equipment

Reading schematics and wiring diagrams

Networking principles (ACL, TCP/IP, VL

Education

Associates or higher in biomedical technology/biomedical engineering

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

DOD BME training program completion

DOD repair/maintenance of electronic systems or IT + 1 year experience

HTM certificate program with internship

HTM certificate without internship + 1 year experience

Certification: CBET/CRES/CLES/CHTM

Tools

Digital multimeters

Electrical safety analyzers

Defibrillator analyzers

Patient simulators

Manometers

Tachometers

LAN analyzers

Job description

Serves as a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) Central Alabama Veterans Healthcare System Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) department. Works in support of the medical equipment management program. Troubleshoots and performs planned maintenance on medical devices and clinical systems under frequent supervision. 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.

a. Citizenship.

Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).

b. 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

To qualify for the GS-11 level.

• 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.