Job opening: Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) (Imaging)
Salary: $86 962 - 113 047 per year
Published at: Nov 15 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
This position is located under the Healthcare Technology Management Service of the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Bay Pines, FL. The Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) (Imaging) provides clinical and administrative support to staff, patients, and administrators for all matters of concern relating to the facility wide lifecycle management of networks, networked medical equipment and associated systems.
Duties
The duties and responsibilities of the Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (Information Systems) include but are not limited to the following:
Lifecycle management of advanced imaging or radiological devices 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 and diagnostic devices and systems. Utilizes comprehensive knowledge of imaging techniques, technologies, radiological practices, and procedures in resolving highly complex equipment failures that have immediate risks to patient safety. 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 advanced radiological test equipment including but not limited to radiation dosimeters, calibration phantoms, high voltage testing devices, KV and MA meters and monitor calibration devices in addition to common test equipment including electrical safety analyzers, oscilloscopes, patient simulators, pulse generators, network analyzers, and multimeters, among others.
Troubleshoots and maintains radiology information systems and interfaces (i.e. HL7, DICOM, TCP/IP) with EHR alongside PACS Administrators, OIT, BESS (Biomedical Information Systems) and other experts.
Performs advanced testing and troubleshooting of advanced imaging or radiological devices involving their interfaces and connections to other medical devices or information systems either directly or through the facility's hardwired and wireless networks. Adheres to Medical Device Isolation Architecture (MDIA) Guidelines inboth pre-procurement and during system implementation, and system management. 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).
As assigned, employee is responsible for lifecycle management of other medical devices and systems such as 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.
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), American College of Radiology (ACR), Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH).
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. Maintains required medical physicist reports and other device reports for all assigned imaging devices.
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.
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 (conference, classes) or informal (magazines, articles, peer training) means. May be required to attend lengthy training as many radiological imaging equipment courses can have a duration greater than one month.
Provides training and education as appropriate to medical technology end users and clinical staff.
Provides mentoring and technical training to peers and development graded BESS.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Travel: May be required up to 25% of the time - Valid Driver's License Required
Functional Statement #: 20384F
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
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
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 and spoken English.
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.
Grandfathering Provision. Not applicable, this position is above the full performance level.
GRADE DETERMINATIONS
Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (Imaging), GS-12
Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level which include but are not limited to the following:
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
Certification. Certified Radiology Equipment Specialist (CRES) is highly desirable at this level however it is 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 codes and standards relevant to safe operation of radiation producing medical devices such as National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), The Joint Commission (TJC), American College of Radiology (ACR), Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) and The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI).
Comprehensive knowledge of imaging techniques, technologies, radiological practices and procedures.
Skill in using advanced radiological test equipment such as radiation dosimeters, calibration phantoms, high voltage testing devices, KV and MA meters and monitor calibration devices.
Ability to resolve highly complex breakdowns that have an immediate risk to patient safety.
Ability to maintain and troubleshoot networked medical imaging equipment to include VLAN configuration, IP addressing, sub-netting, and network security, and build, configure, repair and install workstations and servers in imaging and non-imaging environments.
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, and DICOM standards.
Physical Requirements. The position is mostly sedentary. Occasionally require duties that are physically demanding involving walking, sitting, standing, climbing ladders, crouching, crawling, stooping, reaching, kneeling, and some prolonged periods of intense concentration, under adverse conditions. Lifting of objects between 10 and 40 pounds is common, and on occasion lifting of heavier objects is necessary. Trips to satellite outpatient clinics are sometimes necessary and will involve transportation via station vehicle or privately-owned vehicle.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
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 CW Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
10000 Bay Pines Boulevard
Bay Pines, FL 33744
US
- Name: David Califano
- Phone: (561) 884-1870
- Email: [email protected]
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