The Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) position 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. Recruitment or relocation incentive authorized and may be paid to Highly Qualified candidate.

Duties

Duties include, but not limited to: Coordinates and works effectively with other facility support departments. Utilizes common test equipment including, but not limited to patient simulators, pulse generators, network analyzers, test phantoms, electrical safety analyzers, oscilloscopes, and multimeters. Maintains functional knowledge of relevant safety codes and standards of regulatory bodies. Applies basic networking principles to resolve medical system communication issues including, but not limited to, node to server failures. Maintains knowledge of the state of the art in medical technology, including scientific advances, network protocols, and vendor changes. Focuses on professional development in all areas of medical technology lifecycle management including technical skills. Provides training and education as appropriate to medical technology end users and clinical staff. Provides mentoring and technical training to peers and BESS at developmental levels. Duties are performed as assigned by supervisor related to maintenance, remediation, and tracking of medical systems (action items, special projects, etc.) to meet mission critical requirements. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. Compressed: Available Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized (Recruitment or relocation incentive authorized and may be paid to Highly Qualified candidates) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91924A, 91925A, 91926A, 91927A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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 and Experience: 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. 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 and spoken English. Physical Requirements: Listed below in accordance with VA DIRECTIVE 5019. Grade Determinations: To qualify for the GS-5 grade level, you must meet the above listed basic qualification for this occupational series to include qualifying based on education, experience, or a combination of education and experience. To qualify for the GS-7 grade level, one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level. Examples of experience includes, but it not limited to: provides support of basic medical equipment and systems to include, but not limited to: installation, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, calibrations and safety inspections. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to read, interpret, and apply a great variety of technical data such as schematic drawings, wiring diagrams, table charts, mathematical expressions and formulas. Ability to learn equipment maintenance, operating procedures, and repair procedures from training materials and courses. Fundamental knowledge of electronics to include analog, digital and microprocessor theory, pneumatics, hydraulics, optics, electro-mechanics, physics, basic networking, and chemistry. Knowledge of the use of standard level test equipment to include, but not limited to, multi-meters, electrical safety analyzers, patient simulator, storage oscilloscopes, manometers, tachometers, etc. Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, medical equipment, and technology. Knowledge of basic networking, computer/server hardware/software and information technologies and computer virus protection software, available software patches and upgrades, and information security tools (i.e. Microsoft Office, Windows operating systems, McAfee, etc.). To qualify for the GS-9 grade level, one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level. Examples of experience includes, but is not limited to: provide support of medical equipment and systems to include, but not limited to: installation, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, reliability, calibrations and safety; performs and documents all repairs and preventive maintenance activities; and ensures that the data is correctly entered into the medical equipment management computer system. Provide support of medical equipment and systems. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of electronics and electricity including analog and intermediate digital electronics to test, calibrate, maintain, and repair biomedical equipment and moderately complex biomedical instrumentation systems. Skill in the setup and use of standard and advanced level test equipment to perform precise and detailed analysis of the operating and design characteristics of equipment and initiate repairs, reconfiguration, or redesign of moderately complex medical systems. Skill in applying theory, concepts, techniques, design characteristics, operation, and functions to assist and support installation, operation, test, maintenance, repair, design, and modification for a comprehensive range of medical equipment connected to networks or other operating systems. Ability to evaluate practical and technical information from manufacturers, contract specifications, manuals, and historical data in order to perform analysis required to make effective recommendations concerning operation, maintenance, and repair of medical equipment. Ability to perform testing and troubleshooting of medical devices involving their interfaces and connections to other medical devices, clinical systems, or information systems either directly or through the hospitals hardwired and wireless networks. Ability to use application software and hardware as it relates to the operation and diagnostics of medical equipment. Knowledge of computer equipment with a wide variety of software to input and retrieve data as required, and to prepare a variety of specific working documents and forms such as spreadsheet, database, word processing, and other similar products. To qualify for the GS-11 grade level, one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level. Examples of experience includes, but is not limited to: provides support of medical equipment and systems, install, maintain, safety test, calibrate, troubleshoot, and support medical technologies. Performs and documents all repairs and preventive maintenance activities and ensures that the data is correctly. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of a wide range of sciences including, but not limited to, electronics (analog and digital), computer science/networking, mechanical engineering design, pneumatics, hydraulics, chemistry, physiology, medical terminology, anatomy, optics, and biology to perform duties of a broad scope and nature on complex and sophisticated patient-related medical systems and sub-systems. Ability to perform advanced testing and troubleshooting of medical devices involving their interfaces and connections to information systems either directly or through the hospitals hardwired and wireless networks. Knowledge of codes and standards relevant to safe operation of medical instrumentation such as National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Joint Commission (TJC), and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). Skill in the use of all types of test and calibration equipment such as digital multi-meters, electrical safety analyzers, defibrillator analyzers, patient simulators, digital oscilloscopes, pulse generators, and Local Area Network (LAN) analyzers in performing troubleshooting/repair and preventive maintenance activities. Ability to configure and maintain medical servers and desktop computers. Knowledge of contracting regulations, requirements, and specific contract specifications including performance-based contracts. Preferred Experience: Work experience within a hospital setting. 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: May perform moderate lifting and carrying of up to 44 pounds. Work may require straight pulling and pushing of equipment. Walking and standing for extended periods of time may be required to complete daily tasks. Repeated bending for extended periods of time and climbing using extremities may also be required.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

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).

Contacts

• Address Chillicothe VA Medical Center 17273 State Route 104 Chillicothe, OH 45601 US
• Name: Maria Cate
• Phone: 317-626-4529
• Email: [email protected]