Job Description

** Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS)**

**Department of Veterans Affairs**

**Location**

1 vacancy in the following location:

+ **Duties**

Duties include but are not limited to:

* Lifecycle management of all medical systems such as imaging, life support, dialysis, and monitoring to include physical and network support.

* Coordinate with other facility support departments including but not limited to Facilities Management Service (FMS), Office of Information Technology (OIT), Patient Safety, Sterile Processing Service (SPS), Logistics, Contracting, Informatics, and Environmental Management Service (EMS).

* Utilize common test equipment including, but not limited to patient simulators, pulse generators, network analyzers, test phantoms, electrical safety analyzers, oscilloscopes, and multimeters.

* Maintain 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).

* Document all work performed in the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).

* Apply general networking principles to resolve medical system communication issues including, but not limited to, node to server failures.

* Adhere to VA Medical Device Cyber Security policies and procedures in pre-procurement, during system implementation, and throughout the life of the system.

* Loads operating system (OS) and clinical application software as needed.

* Execute VA policy when responding to network incident response (due to infection, loss of services due to policy changes).

* Utilize general knowledge of computer hardware, software, communication standards, security, storage media, etc. to maximize the usage and functionality of complex, integrated medical equipment systems and networks.

* Assists in utilizing and maintaining computer- and server-based medical equipment, medical record databases, and proprietary and generic software, and interfaces networked medical equipment to these systems.

* Assists in identifying and diagnosing issues related to Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) configuration, Internet Protocol (IP) addressing, sub-netting, Health Level-7 (HL7) messaging, Digital Imagining and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) standards, and network security to minimize downtime.

* Assists in determining methods and approaches to maintain complex networks of medical equipment.

* Inspects operating systems, antivirus software, Access Control Lists (ACLs), data storage capacity, and data security status to identify and correct potential problems.

* Functions as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and keeps appropriate certification levels.

* Collaborate with Logistics and Contracting to procure parts and services.

* Functions as a purchase card holder, as required.

* Investigate, remedy and document Repairable Medical Device (RMD) recalls and safety alerts issued through the VA Alerts and Recall Management System (ARMS) within established timeframes. Participates in local safety improvement processes such as Root Cause Analysis (RCA), safety work groups, and Environment of Care Rounds.

* Identify hazards during routine job performance and takes action to ensure they are addressed and corrected.

* Determines if equipment performs satisfactorily by selecting or designing appropriate tests for evaluation of performance in accordance with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) standards.

* Uses conventional Standard Test Equipment (STE) and High Level Test Equipment (HLTE) to accomplish assignments.

* Uses writing skills to clearly and accurately communicate matters of importance.

* Instruct equipment users in correct equipment usage and in user-level preventive maintenance.

* Maintain knowledge of the state of the art in medical technology, including scientific advances, network protocols, and vendor changes.

* Provide training and education as appropriate to medical technology end users and clinical staff.

* May be tasked with leading and managing installation or upgrade projects for medical devices and systems.

* Represents Biomedical/Clinical Engineering department on committees and in meetings as delegated by supervisor.

* Other duties as assigned.

**Work Schedule**: 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Monday - Friday

**Telework**: Not Available

**Virtual:** This is not a virtual position.

**Functional Statement #**: 000000

**Relocation/Recruitment Incentives**: Not Authorized

**Permanent Change of Station (PCS):** Not Authorized

**Fi****nancial Disclosure Report:** Not required **Requirements**

** Conditions of Employment**

* You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.

* All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

* Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.

* Must be proficient in written and spoken English.

* You may be required to serve a probationary period.

* Subject to background/security investigation.

* Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

* Must pass pre-employment physical examination.

* Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

* Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

** 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.

* **Education/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.

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 FEBRUARY 7, 2018 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.

**Grade Determinations**:

**GS-05**: None beyond the basic

**GS-07**: At this grade level you must have at least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level.

You must also possess the following k

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