** Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (Biomedical Info Systems)**

**Department of Veterans Affairs**

**Location**

1 vacancy in the following location:

** Relocation expenses reimbursed**

No

** Telework eligible**

No

**Duties**

** Summary**

The Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) (Biomedical Information Systems) provides clinical and administrative support to staff, patients, and administrators for all matters of concern relating to the facility wide lifecycle management of networks, networked medical equipment and associated systems.

**Responsibilities**

Biomedical support requires the application of engineering and mechanical concepts and methodology to provide lifecycle management and technical support of diagnostic, therapeutic devices, monitoring, and other equipment utilized in the practice of medicine, and to improve health service delivery systems for communities and within individual VA facilities (medical centers, outpatient clinics, and domiciliaries).

Major Duties included:

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, and monitoring.

Manages, troubleshoots and maintains complete systems of computerized networks, databases and servers including but not limited to biomedical information systems that store or facilitate patient information.

Implements and plans for new and emerging technologies including but not limited to diagnostic modalities, network management and storage, and virtual data centers.

Designs, implements and manages network incident response due to infection, loss of service or regional and local policy changes according to VA guidelines.

Maintains 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), American College of Radiology (ACR), Federal Information Processing

Standards (FIPS).

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

As assigned, functions as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and keeps appropriate certification levels.

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

**Work Schedule:** Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm

**Fi****nancial Disclosure Report:** Not required **Travel Required**

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

** Supervisory status**

No

** Promotion Potential**

12

**Requirements**

** Conditions of Employment**

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

Designated and/or random drug testing may be required

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

You may be required to serve a probationary period

Subject to a background/security investigation

Must be proficient in written and spoken English

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

**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.

**Experience and Education.** 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. 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 Determinations**:

**Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (Biomedical Information Systems), GS-12**. At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience may include responsibility for monitoring system backups, file integrity, ensuring network connectivity between systems, servers, databases, and the electronic medical record and ability to reload operating systems and clinical application software in the event of a system failure and interface with Office of Information and Technology (OI&T) locally and at other sites to keep systems operational. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

(a) Current knowledge of computer virus protection software, available software patches and upgrades, and information security tools.

(b) Expert knowledge of electronics, computer and networking theory with experience maintaining, interfacing and troubleshooting networked medical equipment to include VLAN configuration, IP addressing, sub-netting, and network security.

(c) Ability to utilize and maintain computer and server based medical equipment, medical record databases, and proprietary and generic software, Experience with TCP/IP, HL7, networking, network security, and DICOM standards.

(d) Ability to interpret, identify, and apply network engineering principles and practices where there often times is no previous example to follow, or precedence.

(e) Skill to distinguish networking problems from non-networking problems and discuss various options with IT networking and operations staff members.

**References:** VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G49

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

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**Physical Requirements:** Incumbent must be able to stoop, reach, kneel, crouch, and maintain intense concentration for long periods of time under most adverse conditions, such as repairing and/or calibrating lifesaving equipment while it is monitoring and/or supporting the life of a patient. Acceptable hearing, visual accuracy, field of vision, and color perception are required for working on minute circuits. Moderate lifting is necessary. Heavy lifting (over 40 lbs) can be accomplished by getting assistance when needed. Circuit repairs require adequate eyesight and dexterity for working on high-density boards. **Education**

**IMPORTANT:** A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

**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: . 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: .

**Additional information**

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited