Serves as a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) specialized in intensive care, high-risk, or surgical equipment within the Clinical Engineering Service at the VA Maryland Health Care System. Works in support of the medical equipment management program. In addition to duties at the full performance level, the BESS maintains life-support, high-risk surgical, or intensive care medical equipment and clinical systems.
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, or Certification:(1) Associates or higher degree in the biomedical technology or biomedical engineering field; OR (2) Associates or higher degree in electronics, a field of information technology, or engineering (other than biomedical engineering) AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR (3) Completion of the Department of Defense (DOD) biomedical equipment technician training program; OR (4) Completion of a DOD training program in repair and maintenance of electronic systems or information technology AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR (5) Completion of a biomedical engineering technician or Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) certificate program that included an internship or apprenticeship; OR (6) Completion of biomedical engineering technician or HTM certificate program that did not include an internship AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR (7) Hold or having 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 maintenance of certification is not 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. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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). Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and assignment held including positive education and certification. For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment-specific requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation, but they may not be promoted beyond the journey level or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Employees 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) Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (Intensive Care), GS-12 Experience Requirement: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade. Assignment. For all assignments above the FPL, the higher-level duties must be of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity, and range of variety, as described in this standard at the specific grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. At the advanced level, the BESS, in addition to the duties at the FPL, leverage advanced knowledge in performing manufacturer-level maintenance on specialized high-risk surgical or intensive care medical equipment and clinical systems. This includes systems such as anesthesia, intensive care ventilator equipment, intra-aortic balloon pumps, heart-lung bypass systems, and other advanced operating room or intensive care unit equipment. They manage specialized network systems, databases, and interfaces such as Clinical Information Systems (CIS), Anesthesia Record Keeping (ARK), or other networked medical systems. BESSs (Intensive Care) use specialized diagnostic software, quality assurance tools, and test equipment. They assist in designing and implementing security measures and a disaster recovery plan to prevent loss of patient data from medical equipment and clinical systems. BESSs (Intensive Care) serve as a facility, VISN, or national subject matter expert (SME). They manage projects for specialized, high-risk, surgical, and intensive care medical equipment and clinical systems. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (Intensive Care), GS-12 KSAs Requirements: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of HL7 and DICOM standards. (b) Skill in applying standards including National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Joint Commission (TJC), and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) for safe operation of medical equipment and clinical systems. (c) Skill in operating test equipment for specialized high-risk, surgical, or intensive care medical equipment such as ventilator testers, mechanical lungs, and anesthetic gas monitors. (d) Skill in maintaining specialized high-risk, intensive care, or surgical equipment such as ventilators, heart-lung bypass, anesthesia, and intra-aortic balloon pumps. (e) Skill in performing advanced testing to troubleshoot specialized networked medical equipment and clinical system interfaces. (f) Ability to resolve complex failures on specialized medical equipment and clinical systems. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-12. Physical Requirements: The work may require physical stamina, dexterity, and the ability to lift up to 50 pounds while working in a variety of positions, often involving bending, crouching, and reaching. Environmental factors: The work may include electrical energy, working on ladders, working outdoors, and working alone. There may be occasional exposure to moderate risks or discomforts associated with hazardous materials. The work may involve occasional travel, driving, and/or traveling by motor vehicle.
Duties include but not limited to: Performs manufacturer-level maintenance on life-support, high-risk surgical, or intensive care medical equipment and clinical systems. Manages network systems, databases, and interfaces on life-support, high-risk surgical, or intensive care medical equipment and clinical systems. Coordinates and implements cybersecurity measures and disaster recovery plans. Manages the planning, acquisition, and installation of life-support, high-risk surgical, or intensive care medical equipment and clinical systems. Serves as a subject matter expert on assigned committees, projects, and workgroups. Manages the lifecycle of medical equipment and clinical systems. Troubleshoots medical equipment and clinical systems using a variety of technical data and completes corrective action. Performs incoming inspections and planned maintenance on medical equipment and clinical systems. Documents all work in the Computerized Maintenance Management System(CMMS). Responds to and remediates hazard alerts, recall notifications, and incidents concerning medical equipment and clinical systems. Documents all actions in the appropriate system. Monitors system backups, ensures network connectivity, mitigates cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and maintains clinical systems. Utilizes test equipment in accordance with manufacturer instructions. Manages projects involving medical equipment and clinical systems. Provides customer support to staff, evaluates issues and needs, responds with solutions, and keeps customers abreast of status. Educates staff on the safe operation and user-level maintenance of medical equipment and clinical systems. Serves as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and/or purchase card holder. Develops documentation to purchase commodities and/or vendor services. Manages, monitors, and evaluates contractor performance and addresses issues or deficiencies. Complies with applicable standards, policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements Provides guidance and mentorship to expand professional knowledge and enhance technical skillsets. Maintains and enhances knowledge in technological advancements through professional development and technical training. Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm M-F Telework: No Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 512-25434-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: No Permanent Change of Station (PCS): No