The Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) (Lead) works in support of the Biomedical Engineering Department by managing workload among assigned employees. Additionally, the Lead BESS 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.

Duties

Lifecycle management of any and all medical 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. 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). 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. Identifies, distributes and prioritizes workload among employees in accordance with established workflow and/or job specializations. Revises work schedules to meet anticipated and unanticipated changes in the workload. Assigns daily work to staff, establishing priorities based on workload related to BESS and ensures that each employee has an integral role in developing the final team product. Reviews progress of work assignments, modifies as needed and checks completed work for accuracy. Ensures SOPs and standards are followed. Provides information on behalf of the team to inform the supervisor of performance management issues/problems and to recommend/request related actions, such as: assignments, reassignments, promotions, tour of duty changes, peer reviews and performance appraisals. Leads the team in assessing its strengths and weaknesses and provides leadership to the team in exploring alternatives and determining what improvements can be made (e.g., in work methods, processes and procedures). Performs advanced testing and troubleshooting of medical devices and systems involving their interfaces and connections to information systems either directly or through the facility's hardwired and wireless networks. Adheres to Medical Device Isolation Architecture (MDIA) Guidelines in both pre-procurement and during system implementation. Loads operating system (OS) and clinical application software as needed. Executes VA guidelines when responding to network incident response (due to infection, loss of services or regional and local policy changes). Maintains functional knowledge of relevant safety codes and standards of regulatory bodies including but not limited to The Joint Commission (TJC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). Documents all work performed in the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS). This documentation is completed in accordance with regulatory body requirements, Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) Documentation of Services guidelines and other organizational requirements. Implements the Biomedical Section training program, in-house cross training, and vendor training, to ensure that technicians are kept abreast of the changing technology as effectively as possible within the available resources. Serves as coach, facilitator and/or negotiator in coordinating team initiatives and in consensus building activities among team members As assigned, functions as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and keeps appropriate certification levels. Uses knowledge of government contract procedures and documentation requirements to develop statements of work, sole source justifications, other applicable documentation (6550, Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE), etc.) and to oversee vendor work. Collaborates with Logistics and Contracting to procure parts and services; functions as a purchase card holder, as required. Investigates, remediates and documents recalls and safety alerts within established timeframes. Participates in local safety improvement processes such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA), safety work groups, and Environment of Care Rounds. Identifies hazards during routine job performance and takes action to ensure they are addressed and corrected. 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. Knowledge and training is obtained from formal or informal means. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible:Available Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 436-60097-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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: Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part) English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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: None 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). Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA as a BESS on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education that is part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For 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: (1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) BESSs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard 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. (3) 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. (4) Employees who are retained as a BESS under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must Grade Determinations: Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist, GS-12 Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 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 VA, NFPA, FDA, NRC, The Joint Commission, and other relevant safety and radiation safety standards. Ability to lead biomedical staff and work on medical equipment if needed to maintain compliant workflow. Knowledge of project management principles required to effectively and efficiently manage multiple, concurrent projects. Skill in communication to interact with clinical, technical and managerial staff. Ability to instruct staff, lead individuals, manage priorities, and schedule work assignments. Assignment: For all assignments above the full-performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. The Lead BESS works in support of the BESS management team. Distributes and prioritizes workload among employees in accordance with established workflow and/or job specializations. Revises work schedules to meet anticipated and unanticipated changes in the workload. Assigns daily work to staff, establishing priorities based on workload related to BESS. Prepares estimates and reports on expected time of completion of work. Reviews progress of work assignments and modifies as needed and checks completed work for accuracy. Ensures SOPs and mandates are followed during the performance of workflow. Instructs employees on work- related activities, policies, procedures and goals. Implements the Biomedical Section training program, in- house cross training, and vendor training, to ensure that technicians are kept abreast of the changing technology as effectively as possible within the available resources. May participate in VISN wide projects to provide their expertise in a particular technology. The incumbent may provide input to the VISN High-Cost/High-Tech Committee and capital investment proposals, and may serve as a VISN technical resource. Provides information to management officials concerning performance issues, assignment changes and task completion. Responds and supports resolution of customer service concerns. 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-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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/.

Contacts

• Address Montana VA Health Care System 3687 Veterans Drive Fort Harrison, MT 59636 US
• Name: VISN 19 HR Contact Center
• Phone: 719-227-4600
• Email: [email protected]