Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (HTM)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Maywood (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) at the US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair provides clinical and administrative support for the lifecycle management of diagnostic, therapeutic, and monitoring devices across the facility.

Responsibilities include advanced testing, troubleshooting, and maintaining medical computers and software, with project management of equipment and clinical system upgrades, within a demanding medical mission context.

Qualifications

• Experience with standards for safe operation of medical equipment.
• Ability to interpret schematic drawings and wiring diagrams.
• Ability to troubleshoot medical equipment interfaces.
• Experience maintaining medical computers and software.
• Project management experience with medical equipment.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical and administrative support for lifecycle management of medical equipment.
• Perform advanced testing to troubleshoot medical equipment and clinical system interfaces.
• Maintain medical computers and software.
• Manage projects involving medical equipment and clinical systems.

Skills

NFPA standards

FDA standards

TJC standards

AAMI standards

Test equipment use

Schematic interpretation

Networking fundamentals

Project management

Tools

Digital multimeters

Electrical safety analyzers

Defibrillator analyzers

Patient simulators

Manometers

Tachometers

LAN analyzers

Job description

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.

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: Must be proficient in spoken and written English. 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.

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.

Physical Requirements:

Employee will continually handle objects weighing up to 20 lbs. and occasionally objects up to 50 lbs. Occasionally work will be performed in cramped and awkward positions. The work also requires frequent periods of standing and walking. Position requires operating a motor vehicle to service equipment at locations off campus, including transport of objects. The position constantly operates a computer, tools, and diagnostic test equipment to perform assigned duties. Technical, academic, and mental demands are considerable. The work performed is of a precise nature requiring prolonged concentration. The incumbent will often work under conditions of stress caused by the nature of the medical mission which involves the well-being of the patients and the necessity to meet deadlines.