Job opening: Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist-BESS Information Systems
Salary: $96 684 - 125 685 per year
Published at: Dec 19 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
The Eastern Colorado Health Care System VA Hospital is currently recruiting for one GS-12 Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist-BESS Information Systems.
Duties
The full performance level of the Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist-BESS Information Systems duties include, but aren't limited to the following:
Responsible for 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 & monitoring &/or systems e.g. VLAN configuration, IP addressing, sub-netting, HL7, DICOM, Access Control List, ACL, and network security across the medical device network
Partners w/ stakeholders
Utilizes advanced network test equipment & software e.g. tracers, wireless spectrum analyzers, network traffic monitors, command prompt, physical & virtual server software Manages, troubleshoots & maintains complete systems of computerized networks, databases & servers e.g. biomedical information systems that store/facilitate patient information Biomedical information systems e.g. Picture Archiving Communication Systems, physiological monitoring systems, Clinical Information Systems, Anesthesia Record Keeping & other systems that use Medical Device Isolation Architecture, MDIA
Help w/ managing, troubleshooting & maintaining complete system of computerized networks, databases & servers for Specialized Device Isolation Architecture e.g. security cameras, physical access controls, and HVAC monitoring systems
Plans/implements new & emerging technologies e.g. diagnostic modalities, network management & storage & virtual data centers
Designs, implements & manages network incident response due to infection, loss of service or regional & local policy changes according to VA guidelines
Reviews/installs software updates & virus definitions for networked medical devices
Loads operating system, OS & clinical application software
Leads development of disaster recovery procedures for critical systems to be enacted in the event of device failure
Adheres to MDIA Guidelines during pre-procurement & system implementation
Completes both routine & complex assignments involving identifying, installing, maintaining, modifying, troubleshooting, repairing & calibrating complex therapeutic, diagnostic & life support medical devices
Performs incoming inspections, regular & unscheduled maintenance & plans for replacement in conjunction w/ clinical services
Uses test equipment e.g. electrical safety analyzers, oscilloscopes, patient simulators, pulse generators, network analyzers & multimeters
Knows relevant safety codes & regulatory body standards; The Joint Commission, National Fire Protection Association, Food & Drug Administration, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, American College of Radiology & Federal Information Processing Standards
Documents all work according to policy in Computerized Maintenance Management System
Maintains documentation of biomedical information systems covering ePHI requirements, VLAN, IP address, anti-virus software, security & other required information
Serves as government purchase card holder
Investigates, remediates & documents recalls & safety alerts according to deadlines
Participates in local safety improvement processes e.g. Root Cause Analysis, safety work groups & Environment of Care Rounds
Notes hazards during routine job duties & ensures they're fixed
Provides mentoring, training & education to medical technology end users & clinical staff
Leads & manages installation or upgrade projects for medical devices and systems, e.g. pre-implementation planning & coordination w/ end users, vendors & other onsite support staff (OIT, Informatics, SPS, etc.) for CIS, ARK, Imaging communication & other biomedical information system projects
Maintains, remediates & tracks medical systems; action items, special projects, etc
Represents Biomedical/Clinical Engineering department on committees & in meetings
Participates educational activities, completes unit based in-services, & mandatory educational activities in a self-directed manner by deadlines
Demonstrates positive, effective communication skills & professional behavior that promote cooperation & teamwork
Practices good customer customer service and demonstrates VA I-CARE values
Participates in unit-based quality of care performance improvement activities, unit based performance improvement measures & results
Identifies problem areas by practicing evidence-based practices on unit
Perform other duties as assigned
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 7:30am - 4pm, work hours are somewhat negotiable, however position is subject to on-call/call backs during evenings, nights, weekends & holidays as needed to support operations of a 24/7 facility & its associated CBOCs.
Telework: Ad hoc telework is available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: PD56909O
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
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:
US Citizenship Non-citizens may only be appointed when you can't recruit qualified citizens
English Language Proficiency Must be able to speak & write English
Education, Experience or Certification
Associates or higher degree in biomedical technology or biomedical engineering field
OR
Associates or higher degree in electronics, a field of information technology, or engineering, other than biomedical engineering AND 1 year of creditable experience
OR
Completion of the Department of Defense, DOD biomedical equipment technician training program
OR
Completion of a DOD training program in electronic systems repair & maintenance or information technology AND 1 year of creditable experience
OR
Completion of biomedical engineering technician or Healthcare Technology Management, HTM certificate program that included internship or apprenticeship
OR
Completion of biomedical engineering technician or HTM certificate program that didn't include internship AND 1 year creditable experience
OR
Hold or ever held certification as a Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician, CBET, Certified Radiology Equipment Specialist, CRES, Certified Laboratory Equipment Specialist, CLES, or Certified Healthcare Technology Manager, CHTM. Continuous certification maintenance isn't required throughout VHA employment
Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
Grade Determination: The following criteria must be met when determining candidate's grade in addition to basic requirements for employment
GS-12
Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills & Abilities, KSAs Candidate must demonstrate all following KSAs in addition to above experience
1) Knowledge of Health Level 7 (HL7) and Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standards.
2) Knowledge of advanced testing methods to troubleshoot networked medical equipment and clinical system interfaces.
3) Skill in maintaining computer and server based medical equipment, databases, and software.
4) Skill in managing medical equipment and clinical system projects that interface with an electronic health record or other information systems.
5) Skill in applying cybersecurity standards to medical devices and clinical systems such as Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA), and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines.
6) Ability to apply information security tools including virus protection, software updates, and operating system patches.
7) Ability to establish a medical network including VLAN configuration, Internet Protocol addressing, and network security.
Preferred Experience: Managing VLANS, medical device servers, troubleshooting networked medical equipment and project management experience with multi projects. More than one year of experience with installations including switches, virtual servers and networked systems with clinical applications.
Reference: Please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ for more information on this qualification standard
The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-12.
Physical Requirements:
Subject to stressful situations e.g. instrument malfunction or failure when medical instruments are required to be working correctly, reliably & safely at all times
Must be able to act calmly & professionally
Required to walk, sit & stand for long time periods
Frequent benchwork requires precision & good concentration w/ proper hand-eye coordination
Some climbing & working on ladders
Must be able to lift objects up to 50 lbs
Must escort on site contractors for equipment installations, often climbing several flights of stairs & coordinating between buildings
Requires constant adherence to safe work habits & proper use of personal protective equipment
May be exposed to extremely high electrical voltages volts & currents which when not properly addressed could result in severe injury up to & including death
May obtain bruises or burns caused by electric shock & hot components and ionizing radiation x-rays
May be exposed to patient bodily fluids
May be required to work on equipment used in surgical operations requiring proper attire & cleanliness
Must possess & maintain valid state driver's license to provide coverage, repair &/or transport biomedical equipment for ECHCS facility & its associated CBOCs as needed
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Transcripts must include your name, the school's entire name, can be unofficial transcripts, must have the name of the course, date course taken, grade received for the course, amount of credits earned for the course, date degree conferred, name of degree received.
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 VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
1700 N Wheeling St
Aurora, CO 80045
US
- Name: VISN 19 HR Contact Center
- Phone: 719-227-4600
- Email: [email protected]
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