Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist

Description:

Biomedical Equipment Support Specialists (BESS) provides clinical & administrative support to staff, patients, & administrators for all matters of concern relating to the facility wide lifecycle management of medical equipment. Requires the application of engineering & mechanical concepts to provide lifecycle management & technical support of diagnostic, therapeutic devices, monitoring, & other equipment utilized in the practice of medicine, & to improve clinical care provided by clinical staff.

Requirements:

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 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 & spoken English

Experience and/or Education: Associates in Biomedical Electronics Technology, Biomedical Equipment Technology or Biomedical Engineering Technology or in a related technical field such as Electronic Technology or Information Technology & two years of experience as a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist, Biomedical Equipment Technician, Field Service Engineer, Medical Equipment Repairer, or Information Technology Specialist

OR

Bachelor's in Biomedical Engineering Technology or in a related field such as Electronics Engineering Technology or Information Technology

OR

Completion of a military training program in biomedical equipment & two years of experience as a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist or Biomedical Equipment Technician, Field Service Engineer, Medical Equipment Repairer or Information Technology Specialist

OR

Meet the Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA as a BESS on 02/07/2018 are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series & grade held, including positive education that is part of the basic requirements. Employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to & including the full performance level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the GS11 level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions BESSs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to 02/07/2018 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 BESSs initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation Employees who are retained as a BESS under this provision & subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status & must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry as a BESS
Grade Determinations:

GS-5:
Experience or Education: None beyond basic requirements

GS-7:
Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to read, interpret, & apply a great variety of technical data such as schematic drawings, wiring diagrams, table charts, mathematical expressions & formulas Ability to learn equipment maintenance, operating procedures, & repair procedures from training materials & courses Fundamental knowledge of electronics to include analog, digital & microprocessor theory, pneumatics, hydraulics, optics, electro-mechanics, physics, basic networking, & chemistry Knowledge of the use of standard level test equipment to include, but not limited to, multimeters, electrical safety analyzers, patient simulator, storage oscilloscopes, manometers, tachometers, etc Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, medical equipment, & technology Knowledge of basic networking, computer/server hardware/software & information technologies & computer virus protection software, available software patches & upgrades, & information security tools (i.e. Microsoft Office, Windows, McAfee, etc.)
GS-9:
Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of electronics & electricity including analog & intermediate digital electronics to test, calibrate, maintain, & repair biomedical equipment & moderately complex biomedical instrumentation systems Skill in the setup & use of standard & advanced level test equipment to perform precise & detailed analysis of the operating & design characteristics of equipment & initiate repairs, reconfiguration, or redesign of moderately complex medical systems Skill in applying theory, concepts, techniques, design characteristics, operation, & functions to assist & support installation, operation, test, maintenance, repair, design, & modification for a comprehensive range of medical equipment connected to networks or other operating systems Ability to evaluate practical & technical information from manufacturers, contract specifications, manuals, & historical data in order to perform analysis required to make effective recommendations concerning operation, maintenance, & repair of medical equipment Ability to perform testing & troubleshooting of medical devices involving their interfaces & connections to other medical devices, clinical systems, or information systems either directly or through the hospitals hardwired & wireless networks Ability to use application software & hardware as it relates to the operation & diagnostics of medical equipment Knowledge of computer equipment with a wide variety of software to input & retrieve data as required, & to prepare a variety of specific working documents & forms such as spreadsheet, database, word processing, & other similar products GS-11:
Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level. Certification as a Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician, Certified Laboratory Equipment Specialist, Net+ & A+ are highly desirable at this level, but not required

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of a wide range of sciences including, but not limited to, electronics (analog & digital), computer science/networking, mechanical engineering design, pneumatics, hydraulics, chemistry, physiology, medical terminology, anatomy, optics, & biology to perform duties of a broad scope & nature on complex & sophisticated patient-related medical systems & sub-systems Ability to perform advanced testing & troubleshooting of medical devices involving their interfaces & connections to information systems either directly or through the hospitals hardwired & wireless networks Knowledge of codes & standards relevant to safe operation of medical instrumentation such as National Fire Protection Association, Food & Drug Administration, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Joint Commission, & the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation Skill in the use of all types of test & calibration equipment such as digital multi-meters, electrical safety analyzers, defibrillator analyzers, patient simulators, digital oscilloscopes, pulse generators, & Local Area Network analyzers in performing troubleshooting/repair & preventive maintenance activities Ability to configure & maintain medical servers & desktop computers Knowledge of contracting regulations, requirements, & specific contract specifications including performance-based contracts
Preferred Experience: 1 year or more repairing/maintaining hospital laboratory equipment, ventilator equipment, anesthesia equipment, & equipment utilized in an Operating Room environment References: VA Handbook 5005/95, Part II, Appendix G49

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

Physical Requirements: See VA handbook 5019