Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (Intensive Care)

SummaryServes as a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) specialized in intensive care - high-risk surgical equipment within a Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) department at a VA facility. Works in support of the medical equipment management program. In addition to duties at the full performance level - the BESS supports and maintains life-support - high-risk surgical equipment and associated clinical systems used in the OR.QualificationsBasic Requirements:United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyEducation - Experience - or Certification(1) Associates or higher degree in the biomedical technology or biomedical engineering fieldOR (2) Associates or higher degree in electronics - a field of information technology - or engineering (other than biomedical engineering) AND 1 year of creditable experienceOR (3) Completion of the Department of Defense (DOD) biomedical equipment technician training programOR (4) Completion of a DOD training program in repair and maintenance of electronic systems or information technology AND 1 year of creditable experienceOR (5) Completion of a biomedical engineering technician or Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) certificate program that included an internship or apprenticeshipOR (6) Completion of biomedical engineering technician or HTM certificate program that did not include an internship AND 1 year of creditable experienceOR (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 employmentGrandfathering ProvisionEmployees 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 certificationFor 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 reentry to the occupationNOTE: This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/placementsForeign EducationTo 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 credentialsPhysical RequirementsSee VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirementsEnglish Language ProficiencyCandidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.7403(f)Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specifiedBiomedical Equipment Support Specialist (Intensive Care) - GS-12(1) ExperienceOne year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade(2) Knowledge - Skills - and AbilitiesIn 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 full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-12 to GS-12.DutiesDuties include but are 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 systemsDocuments 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 servicesManages - 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- The work may involve occasional travel - driving - and/or traveling by motor vehicle Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 0700-1530 Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized