Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (Patient Care)

Veterans Health Administration•Seattle, WA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Serves as a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) in the Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) department at VA Puget Sound Health Care System, supporting the medical equipment management program. The position manages the lifecycle of medical and patient care equipment and clinical systems, troubleshooting issues, performing inspections and planned maintenance, documenting work, responding to alerts and incidents, and maintaining system connectivity and cybersecurity. The full-performance level is GS-11; the vacancy may be filled from GS-5 through GS-11, with duties and supervision varying by grade. The specialist supports staff and customers by evaluating needs, providing solutions and status updates, and educating users on safe equipment operation and user-level maintenance. The role may include project management, contracting and purchasing responsibilities, contractor oversight, committee representation, and mentoring. It also requires travel by government vehicle to Community Based Outpatient Clinics and the Domiciliary for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework is not available, and this is not a virtual position. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized. Applicants must meet the stated citizenship, language, security, and qualification requirements. Basic qualification pathways include specified associate-or-higher degrees, military training, biomedical/HTM certificate programs, or qualifying professional certifications. Grade placement requires the experience and technical knowledge, skills, and abilities specified for the grade. The position has significant physical demands, including heavy lifting and carrying, and may involve electrical energy, ladders, outdoor work, hazardous materials, occasional travel, and working alone.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
Proficiency in written and spoken English.
Meet one of the basic qualification pathways: an associate or higher degree in biomedical technology or biomedical engineering; an associate or higher degree in electronics, information technology, or another engineering field plus one year of creditable experience; qualifying Department of Defense training; a biomedical engineering technician or HTM certificate program with internship/apprenticeship; a qualifying certificate without internship plus one year of creditable experience; or current or prior qualifying CBET, CRES, CLES, or CHTM certification. A grandfathering provision may apply to eligible current VHA employees.
For GS-07, one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade, plus the specified knowledge of physics, anatomy and physiology, electronics, test equipment, networking and information security; CMMS documentation skills; and ability to learn equipment procedures.
For GS-09, one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade, plus knowledge of networking concepts including ACL, TCP/IP, and VLAN; computer/server systems and security; ability to interpret technical data; ability to use standard test equipment; and ability to perform equipment procedures.
For GS-11, one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade, plus knowledge of applicable NFPA, FDA, TJC, and AAMI standards; skill with test and calibration equipment and technical diagrams; networking skills; and ability to conduct advanced troubleshooting, maintain medical computers and software, and manage projects.
Acceptable identification and completion of the required online onboarding process.
Subject to background/security investigation and, for testing-designated positions, pre-appointment urinalysis; refusal to test results in denial of VA employment.
Registration with Selective Service is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
Must complete all application requirements in the announcement and serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
Ability to meet the position's physical and environmental demands, including heavy lifting and carrying of 45 pounds or more, pulling, pushing, reaching above the shoulder, kneeling, and working in specified environmental conditions.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with low-voltage systems operating through application and storage servers, including access control security, nurse call, key management, surveillance, clinical temperature and humidity monitoring, radio communications, and other non-direct-patient-contact systems.

Responsibilities

Manage the lifecycle of medical equipment, patient care equipment, and clinical systems.
Troubleshoot equipment and clinical systems using technical data and complete corrective actions.
Perform incoming inspections and planned maintenance.
Record work in the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) and document actions in appropriate systems.
Respond to and remediate hazard alerts, recall notifications, and incidents involving equipment and clinical systems.
Monitor system backups, ensure network connectivity, mitigate cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and maintain clinical systems.
Use test equipment in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
Manage projects involving medical equipment, patient care equipment, and clinical systems.
Provide customer support by evaluating issues and needs, proposing solutions, and communicating status.
Educate staff in safe operation and user-level maintenance of equipment and clinical systems.
Serve as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and/or purchase card holder; prepare documentation for commodities or vendor services.
Manage, monitor, and evaluate contractor performance and address deficiencies.
Comply with applicable standards, policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
Provide guidance and mentorship, and maintain technical knowledge through professional development and training.
Perform other assigned maintenance, remediation, tracking, and mission-critical project duties.
Represent the HTM department on committees and in meetings when delegated.
Drive a government-owned vehicle to Community Based Outpatient Clinics and the Domiciliary to perform scheduled and unscheduled maintenance.