The Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) (Biomedical Information Systems) provides clinical and administrative support to staff, patients, and administrators for all matters of concern relating to the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System, Akaka CBOC, lifecycle management of networks, networked medical equipment and associated systems.

Duties

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, and to improve health service delivery systems for communities and within individual VA facilities (medical centers, outpatient clinics, and domiciliaries). Lifecycle management encompasses the following: technology assessment including defining requirements and analyzing alternatives with clinical users; technology acquisition including technical evaluation and best value determination of proposed equipment and systems; technology implementation including site preparation, incoming inspections, device/system integration, network device security implementation and clinical/technical training; technology sustainment including regular and unscheduled maintenance, upgrades and enhancements, continuing education; end of useful life tasks including decommissioning, data sanitization, and technical evaluation for condition prior to disposal; and strategic planning for end of life replacement in conjunction with clinical services. The BESS maintains networks, networked medical equipment and associated systems using established local, regional and national policies and procedures designed to meet criteria and standards from multiple accrediting agencies and governing bodies. Duties included but are not limited to the following: Lifecycle management of network equipment including but not limited to network switches, servers, routers and related infrastructure for any and all networked complex medical devices and systems such as imaging, life support, dialysis, and monitoring. Completes both routine and complex assignments involving identifying and troubleshooting issues related to VLAN configuration, IP addressing, sub-netting, HL7, DICOM, Access Control List (ACL) and network security across the medical device network. Coordinates and works effectively with other facility support departments including but not limited to Facilities Management Service (FMS), Office of Information Technology (OIT), Sterile Processing Service (SPS), and Environmental Management Service (EMS). Utilizes advanced network test equipment and software including but not limited to tracers, wireless spectrum analyzers, network traffic monitors, command prompt, physical and virtual server software. Manages, troubleshoots and maintains complete systems of computerized networks, databases and servers including but not limited to biomedical information systems that store or facilitate patient information. These biomedical information systems include but are not limited to Picture Archiving Communication Systems (PACS), physiological monitoring systems, Clinical Information Systems (CIS), Anesthesia Record Keeping (ARK), and other systems for which Medical Device Isolation Architecture (MDIA) would apply. Implements and plans for new and emerging technologies including but not limited to diagnostic modalities, network management and storage, and virtual data centers. Designs, implements and manages network incident response due to infection, loss of service or regional and local policy changes according to VA guidelines. Ensures proper security configuration for assigned devices and networks. Regularly reviews and installs available approved software updates and virus definitions for applicable networked medical devices. Leads development of disaster recovery procedures for critical systems to be enacted in the event of device failure. Adheres to MDIA Guidelines in both preprocurement and during system implementation. Loads operating system (OS) and clinical application software as needed. As assigned, employee is responsible for lifecycle management of any and all medical devices and systems such as imaging, life support, dialysis, and monitoring to include physical and network support. Completes both routine and complex assignments involved in the installation, maintenance, modification, troubleshooting, repair and calibration of these complex therapeutic, diagnostic and life support medical devices and systems. Specific tasks include but are not limited to incoming inspections, regular and unscheduled maintenance, and planning for end of life replacement in conjunction with clinical services. Utilizes common test equipment including, but not limited to, electrical safety analyzers, oscilloscopes, patient simulators, pulse generators, network analyzers, and multimeters. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30am - 4:00pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not eligible for Telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. Experience and Education. Associates degree in Biomedical Electronics Technology, Biomedical Equipment Technology or Biomedical Engineering Technology or in a related technical field such as Electronic Technology or Information Technology and 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 degree in Biomedical Engineering Technology or in a related field such as Electronics Engineering Technology (EET) or Information Technology. Or, Completion of a military training program in biomedical equipment and two years of experience as a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist or Biomedical Equipment Technician, Field Service Engineer, Medical Equipment Repairer or Information Technology Specialist. Licensure/Certification/Registration. Certification as a Certified Healthcare Technology Manager (CHTM) is highly desirable at this level but not required. Grandfathering Provision. Not applicable, this position is above the full performance level. Physical Requirements. TB/Immunization Assessment will be conducted by Employee Occupational Health Service. English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). GRADE DETERMINATIONS In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (Biomedical Information Systems), GS-12 Experience. At least one year of experience at the GS-11 grade level. Experience includes but is not limited to the following: Working with life-cycle management of diagnostic, therapeutic, and other patient related medical equipment and systems. Performing routine and complex tasks involved in the installation, maintenance, modification, troubleshooting and calibration of complex therapeutic, diagnostic and life support biomedical equipment. Monitoring system backups, file integrity, ensuring network connectivity between systems, servers, databases, and the electronic medical record. Reloading operating systems and clinical application software in the event of a system failure and interface with Office of Information and Technology (OI&T) locally and at other sites to keep systems operational. Conducting pre-purchase evaluations and addresses pre-implementation security issues to ensure that medical device isolation architecture (MDIA) requirements are met. Serving as project leader for equipment installation. Identifying the site requirements, preparing cost analysis and justifications, preparing site plans and progress reports. Acting as the project coordinator during installation, testing phases and through to completion of the project to include acceptance testing, planning and coordinating work schedules with other services, arranging utility shutdowns. Identifying and ordering materials and arranging for assistance from other trades and crafts. Responding to hazard recall notifications concerning medical equipment. Investigating equipment incidents and alerts, cases of equipment damage and abuse, equipment failure reports that cannot be duplicated and medical device security incidents. Determining when healthcare technology, instrumentation, or systems are obsolete, hazardous and/or not cost effective to maintain. Performing incoming inspections on new and unfamiliar medical equipment and systems upon receipt to determine that all government safety regulations, manufacturer's specifications, contract requirements are met. Attending training from in-house as well as outside sources (e.g. attendance in community college courses, vendor service schools, conferences/seminars, etc.) to maintain and improve working knowledge of medical equipment, including current technology and future advances. Providing biomedical equipment related technical training to peer and Developmental BESS's as well as clinical staff. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the experience, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Current knowledge of computer virus protection software, available software patches and upgrades, and information security tools. Expert knowledge of electronics, computer and networking theory with experience maintaining, interfacing and troubleshooting networked medical equipment to include VLAN configuration, IP addressing, sub-netting, and network security. Ability to utilize and maintain computer and server based medical equipment, medical record databases, and proprietary and generic software, Experience with TCP/IP, HL7, networking, network security, and DICOM standards. Ability to interpret, identify, and apply network engineering principles and practices where there often times is no previous example to follow, or precedence. Skill to distinguish networking problems from non-networking problems and discuss various options with IT networking and operations staff members. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/95 PART II APPENDIX G49, February 7, 2018 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Demands: Must be able to stoop, reach, kneel, crouch, and maintain intense concentration for long periods of time under most adverse conditions, such as repairing and/or calibrating lifesaving equipment while it is monitoring and/or supporting the life of a patient. Acceptable hearing, visual accuracy, field of vision, and color perception are required for working on minute circuits. Moderate lifting is necessary. Heavy lifting (over 40 lbs.) can be accomplished by getting assistance when needed. Circuit repairs require adequate eyesight and dexterity for working on high-density boards. 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).

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Spark M Matsunaga Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 459 Patterson Road Honolulu, HI 96819 US
• Name: Lizbeth Torres
• Phone: (415) 221-4810 X24760
• Email: [email protected]