Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist; Patient Care

Summary

Serves as a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) within the Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) department at VA Puget Sound Health Care System. Works in support of the medical equipment management program, troubleshooting and performing planned maintenance on a range of medical devices—patient care equipment and clinical systems.

NOTE:

THE 2-PAGE RESUME REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION - REFER TO REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BELOW.

• United States Citizenship:
  Non‑citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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 credible experience in the healthcare industry.
• 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 credible experience in the healthcare industry.
• OR Completion of a biomedical engineering technician or Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) certificate program that included an internship or apprenticeship.
• OR Completion of a biomedical engineering technician or HTM certificate program that did not include an internship AND 1 year of credible experience in the healthcare industry.
• OR Hold or 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.
• Foreign
  
  Education:
  
  To 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 credentials.
• Grade Determinations:
  Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist – GS‑05 Experience or
  
  Education:
  
  None beyond the basic requirements.
• Assignment:
  Employees at this grade level serve as entry‑level developmental BESSs.
• It is expected that they receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require regular supervision.
• BESSs at this grade level perform basic tasks designed to prepare them for promotion.
• They troubleshoot and perform planned maintenance on general medical equipment.
• Entry‑level BESSs assist with incoming inspections and documentation.
• Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist – GS‑07
  
  Experience:
  
  One year of credible experience in the healthcare industry equivalent to the next lower grade.
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of physics, anatomy, and physiology.
  • Knowledge of electronics such as analog, digital, and microprocessor theory.
  • Knowledge of the use of standard-level test equipment such as multimeters, electrical safety analyzers, patient simulators, storage oscilloscopes, manometers, and tachometers.
  • Knowledge of basic networking concepts – such as computer and server hardware and software functionality, information technologies and computer virus protection software, available software patches and upgrades, and information security tools (e.g., Microsoft Office, Windows operating systems, and McAfee).
  • Skill in documenting all services provided in support of medical equipment and clinical systems in a computerized maintenance management system.
  • Ability to learn equipment operating and maintenance procedures.
• Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist – GS‑09
  
  Experience:
  
  One year of credible experience in the healthcare industry equivalent to the next lower grade.
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of basic networking concepts including Access Control List (ACL), Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and Virtual Local Area…