Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist

Description:

The Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) will support the medical equipment management program. The BESS will troubleshoot and perform planned maintenance on a range of medical devices and clinical systems.

Requirements:

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 must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• Education/Experience:
  • • 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.

Grade Determinations : Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist, GS-5 (Entry Level)

• Experience or Education. None beyond basic requirements.

Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist, GS-7

• Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, 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.

Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist, GS-9

• Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, 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.

Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist, GS-11 (Full Performance Level)

• Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level. Certification as a Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET), Certified Laboratory Equipment Specialist (CLES), Net+ and A+ are highly desirable at this level but not required.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, 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.

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).

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: Some of the incumbent's duties are sedentary in nature such as bench repair of electronic equipment. Some work assignments will involve standing, climbing, bending, and occasional work in cramped and awkward positions. The incumbent handles objects weighing from 10 to 65 pounds and must be required to lift these objects over his/her head, i.e. when installing television sets or monitors. The incumbent will need sufficient physical strength to move hospital beds. Work sometimes requires stooping, stretching, bending and kneeling for long periods of time. The incumbent must have good finger dexterity and good color discrimination to distinguish color coded wires.