Biomedical Engineer (Clinical)

Department of Veterans Affairs•Phoenix, AZ

33d•Onsite

About The Position

The incumbent supports the medical center mission and Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) goals while operating in accordance with medical center policies, service line policies, and standards of professional service. The incumbent is a professional consultant and advisor on healthcare technology matters to PVAHCS unit managers and front-line staff. The incumbent supports the medical center mission and HTM goals while operating in accordance with medical center policies, service line policies, and standards of professional service. Functions and Scope A. Program Involvement and Management; The Biomedical Engineer provides PVAHCS with professional HTM support. The incumbent reports directly to the Supervisory Biomedical Engineer. Receives administrative direction with assignments in terms of broadly defined missions and functions. Assignments may be of a special nature with short deadline dates on occasion, necessitating expedient service, tact, and diplomacy. The incumbent exercises authority to oversee the overall planning, direction, and timely execution of assigned HTM activities. The incumbent can plan, design and implement programs, projects, studies, and other work to support healthcare technology at the PVAHCS. B. Technical Expertise; The Biomedical Engineer is recognized as a technical expert and advisor on medical equipment issues and supports the HTM staff at the medical center. The incumbent is responsible for supporting the clinical staff in selection, implementation, and utilization of medical equipment. The incumbent advises management staff in the areas of high-cost and high-volume medical technology, a wide array of general biomedical technology, as well as certain medical-related technology issues. 1. Medical Equipment Management; HTM has a direct impact on all clinical services provided by PVAHCS by ensuring all medical equipment is functional, safe, reliably maintained, and clinically appropriate for the delivery of quality healthcare in a cost-effective manner. 2. Medical Technology Assessment, Acquisition, and Implementation; The incumbent serves as a technical advisor and evaluator on the medical center's Equipment Committee, anticipating the development and future clinical use of diagnostic, therapeutic, analytic and imaging systems possibly not yet on the market. The incumbent must be able to evaluate the implications the equipment will have for the clinical staff, the HTM department, and the facility. 3. Patient Safety; The incumbent contributes to patient safety goals by providing technical expertise regarding alerts and recalls regarding medical equipment, consulting with VA staff at the facility, VISN, and national level regarding solutions to alerts and recalls. The incumbent can manage a recall and safety alert program for medical equipment, including medical device hazard investigations, to assure compliance with patient safety goals, the Safe Medical Devices Act (SMDA), and Joint Commission requirements. 4. Infrastructure Planning; The incumbent consults on medical center construction projects, space functional changes, and associated planning with respect to medical equipment. This includes site preparation for medical equipment, station level projects, non-recurring maintenance projects, and minor construction project designs. Infrastructure planning support often involves very detailed planning activities and can span multiple years, when major or minor construction is involved. C. Budgetary and Financial Management; The Biomedical Engineer participates in medical equipment management and equipment procurement processes that include "right-sizing" equipment functionality, developing technical specifications, evaluating technical proposals, and contributing to price negotiations. The incumbent analyzes and recommends optimal maintenance strategies for medical instrumentation systems. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS; Reports to the Supervisory Biomedical Engineer, and communicates with department directors, section supervisors, facility engineers, contracting officers, IT staff, and a wide range of clinical staff to accomplish medical center and HTM goals and objectives. CUSTOMER SERVICE; Meets the needs of customers while supporting VA missions. The incumbent demonstrates the ability to effectively communicate with their contacts through informal telephone calls, electronic mail messages, teleconferences, meetings, and interpersonal conversations, as well as through formal meetings, conferences, and presentations. The incumbent has regular access to reports and electronic files containing sensitive data, which must be protected in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, 38 U.S.C. 5705, and other applicable laws, federal regulations, VA directives and policies. The Biomedical Engineer follows Life Safety Management (fire protection) procedures and reports on safety hazards, accidents and injuries. Performs other duties as assigned.

Responsibilities

Provides PVAHCS with professional HTM support.
Oversee the overall planning, direction, and timely execution of assigned HTM activities.
Plan, design and implement programs, projects, studies, and other work to support healthcare technology at the PVAHCS.
Supports the clinical staff in selection, implementation, and utilization of medical equipment.
Serves as a technical advisor and evaluator on the medical center's Equipment Committee
Manage a recall and safety alert program for medical equipment, including medical device hazard investigations, to assure compliance with patient safety goals, the Safe Medical Devices Act (SMDA), and Joint Commission requirements.
Consults on medical center construction projects, space functional changes, and associated planning with respect to medical equipment.
Participates in medical equipment management and equipment procurement processes that include "right-sizing" equipment functionality, developing technical specifications, evaluating technical proposals, and contributing to price negotiations.
Analyzes and recommends optimal maintenance strategies for medical instrumentation systems.
Follows Life Safety Management (fire protection) procedures and reports on safety hazards, accidents and injuries.
Performs other duties as assigned.