Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (Intensive Care)

Serves as a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) specialized in intensive care, high-risk, or surgical equipment within the Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) Department at the Durham VA 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.

Qualifications:

BASIC REQUIREMENTS.

To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following : Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). Education, Experience, or Certification. Associates or higher degree in the 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 repair and maintenance of electronic systems or information technology AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR Completion of a biomedical engineering technician or Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) certificate program that included an internship or apprenticeship; OR Completion of biomedical engineering technician or HTM certificate program that did not include an internship AND 1 year of creditable experience; OR 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. 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).

Grade Requirements:

In addition to the basic requirements, you must meet the following grade requirements. Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (Intensive Care), GS-12. Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade, GS-11. Specialized experience includes, but is not limited to: Using test and calibration equipment including digital multi- meters, electrical safety analyzers, defibrillator analyzers, patient simulators, manometers, tachometers, and Local Area Network (LAN) analyzers; Interpreting a variety of technical data including schematic drawings and wiring diagrams; Applying networking principles, such as Access Control List (ACL), Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN); Perform advanced testing to troubleshoot medical equipment and clinical system interfaces; Maintain medical computers and software; Manage projects involving medical equipment and clinical systems. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following

KSAs:

Knowledge of HL7 and DICOM standards. 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. 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. Skill in maintaining specialized high-risk, intensive care, or surgical equipment such as ventilators, heart-lung bypass, anesthesia, and intra-aortic balloon pumps. Skill in performing advanced testing to troubleshoot specialized networked medical equipment and clinical system interfaces. Ability to resolve complex failures on specialized medical equipment and clinical systems.

References:

VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G49. Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist Qualifications Standard. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ . The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements:

The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre­placement physical examination is not required.

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.

Infection Control:

Demonstrates infection control practices for disease prevention (i.e., hand washing, universal precautions/isolation procedures, including tuberculosis requirement/precautions).