The Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) provides clinical and administrative support to staff, patients, and administrators for all matters of concern relating to the facility wide lifecycle management of medical equipment.
Qualifications:Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
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.
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 and internship or apprenticeship; OR
- Completion of a biomedical engineering technician or HTM certificate program that did not include and 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.
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:
GS-5 Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist - Experience or Education. None beyond 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. 5 They troubleshoot and perform planned maintenance on general medical equipment. Entry-level BESSs assist with incoming inspections and documentation.
GS-7 Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist - Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
- (a) Knowledge of physics, anatomy, and physiology.
- (b) Knowledge of electronics such as analog, digital, and microprocessor theory.
- (c) Knowledge of the use of standard level test equipment such as multimeters, electrical safety analyzers, patient simulators, storage oscilloscopes, manometers, and tachometers.
- (d) 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 (for example, Microsoft Office, Windows operating systems, and McAfee).
- (e) Skill in documenting all services provided in support of medical equipment and clinical systems in a computerized maintenance management system.
- (f) Ability to learn equipment operating and maintenance procedures.
- Assignment.
- Employees at this grade level serve as developmental BESSs performing an increasing range of duties, under less frequent supervision, but receive guidance and direction regarding unfamiliar or unusual situations for more complex issues designed to prepare them for promotion. They troubleshoot and perform planned maintenance on general medical equipment. Developmental-level BESSs assist with incoming inspections and documentation
GS-9 Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist- Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
- (a) Knowledge of basic networking concepts including Access Control List (ACL), Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN).
- (b) Knowledge of computer and server hardware and software functionality including virus protection, operating system patches and upgrades, and information security tools.
- (c) Ability to interpret a variety of technical data such as schematic drawings, wiring diagrams, table charts, mathematical expressions, and formulas.
- (d) Ability to use standard level test equipment including multi-meters, electrical safety analyzers, patient simulators, storage oscilloscopes, manometers, and tachometers.
- (e) Ability to perform equipment maintenance and operating procedures.
- Assignment. Employees at this grade level serve as a developmental BESS performing increasingly more complex tasks designed to prepare them to work independently at the full performance level. They troubleshoot and perform planned maintenance on medical equipment. Developmental-level BESSs assist with incoming inspections and documentation. BESSs in this assignment receive increasingly less frequent supervision, direction, or guidance from more experienced staff members.
GS 11 Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist- Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
- (a) Knowledge of 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.
- (b) Skill in using test and calibration equipment including digital multimeters, electrical safety analyzers, defibrillator analyzers, patient simulators, manometers, tachometers, and Local Area Network (LAN) analyzers.
- (c) Skill in interpreting a variety of technical data including schematic drawings and wiring diagrams. 7
- (d) Skill in applying networking principles, such as Access Control List (ACL), Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN).
- (e) Ability to perform advanced testing to troubleshoot medical equipment and clinical system interfaces.
- (f) Ability to maintain medical computers and software.
- (g) Ability to manage projects involving medical equipment and clinical systems
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is
GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5 to GS-11.
Physical Demands:Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.
Work Environment:Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.Employment Type: OTHER