Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (Patient Care)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at VA Puget Sound Health Care System seeks a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist to troubleshoot and perform planned maintenance on a wide range of medical devices and clinical systems.

This role supports the medical equipment management program while ensuring safety and reliability in patient care settings. The position requires meeting basic education/certification requirements and may consider grandfathering for current VHA employees.

Qualifications

• Associates or higher degree in biomedical technology or biomedical engineering
• Associates or higher degree in electronics/IT/engineering plus 1 year of creditable experience
• DOD BET training completing program
• DOD repair/maintenance training plus 1 year experience
• HTM/biomedical certificate with internship
• HTM certificate without internship plus 1 year experience
• Certification as CBET/CRES/CLES/CHTM and ongoing maintenance

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoots and performs planned maintenance on medical devices and clinical systems
• Maintains and supports the medical equipment management program
• Works within HTM department under VA Puget Sound Health Care System

Skills

Physics/Anatomy/Physiology

Electronics theory

Test equipment usage

Networking concepts

Documentation in CMMS

Learning new procedures

Networking fundamentals (ACL/TCP/IP/VL

Education

Biomedical technology degree

Engineering/electronics degree

DOD BECT program completion

HTM/biomedical cert program with internship

CBET/CRES/CLES/CHTM certification

Tools

Multi-meters

Electrical safety analyzers

Patient simulators

Storage oscilloscopes

Tachometers

Job description

Serves as a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) within a Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) department at VA Puget Sound Health Care System. Works in support of the medical equipment management program. Troubleshoots and performs planned maintenance on a range of medical devices, patient care equipment 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.

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, candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified.

Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist, GS-05

(1) Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist, GS-07

(1) Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.

(2) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:(a) Knowledge of physics, anatomy, and physiology. (b) Knowledge of electronics such as analog, digital, and microprocessor theory. (c) Knowledge of the use of standard level test equipment such as multi-meters, electrical safety analyzers, patient simulators, storage oscilloscopes, manometers, and tachometers. (d) 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). (e) Skill in documenting all services provided in support of medical equipment and clinical systems in a computerized maintenance management system. (f) Ability to learn equipment operating and maintenance procedures.

Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist, GS-09

(1) Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.

(2) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:(a) Knowledge of basic networking concepts including Access Control List (ACL), Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN). (b) Knowledge of computer and server hardware and software functionality including virus protection, operating system patches and upgrades, and information security tools. (c) Ability to interpret a variety of technical data such as schematic drawings, wiring diagrams, table charts, mathematical expressions, and formulas. (d) Ability to use standard level test equipment including multi-meters, electrical safety analyzers, patient simulators, storage oscilloscopes, manometers, and tachometers. (e) Ability to perform equipment maintenance and operating procedures.

Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist, GS-11

(1) Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.

(2) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:(a) 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. (b) 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. (c) Skill in interpreting a variety of technical data including schematic drawings and wiring diagrams. (d) Skill in applying networking principles, such as Access Control List (ACL), Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN). (e) Ability to perform advanced testing to troubleshoot medical equipment and clinical system interfaces. (f) Ability to maintain medical computers and software. (g) Ability to manage projects involving medical equipment and clinical systems.

Preferred Experience:

Familiarity with low-voltage systems operating through application and storage servers for the following: access control security systems, nurse call systems, key management systems, Surveillance systems, clinical temperature and humidity monitoring systems, radio communication systems and various non-direct patient contact systems.

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 shoulder; Both legs required; Kneeling (up to 3 hours); Depth perception; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted); Emotional/Mental Stability.

Environmental factors:

The work may include electrical energy, working on ladders, working outdoors, and working alone. There may be occasional exposure to moderate risks or discomforts associated with hazardous materials. The work may involve occasional travel, driving, and/or traveling by motor vehicle.

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.