Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (Imaging)

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.

01Basic 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 an internship or apprenticeship; OR Completion of biomedical engineering technician or HTM certificate program that did not include an 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 Grandfathering Provision: Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and assignment held including positive education and certification.

For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment-specific requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation, but they may not be promoted beyond the journey level or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions.

Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

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. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

02Grade Determinations

Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (Imaging), GS-12. (1) Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-11). (2) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of imaging principles including techniques, technologies, radiological practices, and procedures. (b) Knowledge of HL7 and DICOM standards. (c) Skill in applying standards for safe operation of medical equipment and clinical systems including National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Nuclear Radiation Commission (NRC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Joint Commission (TJC), and the American College of Radiology (ACR). (d) Ability to resolve complex failures on imaging equipment and clinical systems. (e) Ability to perform advanced testing to troubleshoot imaging equipment and clinical system interfaces.

03Preferred Experience

Service/Background with a variety of Imaging Devices 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-12.

04Physical Requirements

The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.

Lifecycle management of advanced imaging or radiological devices to include physical and network support. Completes both routine and complex assignments involved in the installation, maintenance, modification, troubleshooting, repair and calibration of these complex therapeutic and diagnostic devices and systems. Utilizes comprehensive knowledge of imaging techniques, technologies, radiological practices and procedures in resolving highly complex equipment failures that have immediate risks to patient safety.

Coordinates and works effectively with other facility support departments. Specific tasks include but are not limited to incoming inspections, regular and unscheduled maintenance, and planning for end of life replacement in conjunction with clinical services.

Utilizes advanced radiological test equipment including but not limited to radiation dosimeters, calibration phantoms, high voltage testing devices, KV and MA meters and monitor calibration devices in addition to common test equipment including electrical safety analyzers, oscilloscopes, patient simulators, pulse generators, network analyzers, and multimeters, among others. Troubleshoots and maintains radiology information systems and interfaces (i.e.

HL7, DICOM, TCP/IP) with EHR alongside PACS Administrators, OIT, BESS (Biomedical Information Systems) and other experts. Performs advanced testing and troubleshooting of advanced imaging or radiological devices involving their interfaces and connections to other medical devices or information systems either directly or through the facility's hardwired and wireless networks.

Adheres to Medical Device Isolation Architecture (MDIA) Guidelines in both pre-procurement and during system implementation, and system management. Loads operating system (OS) and clinical application software as needed. Executes VA guidelines when responding to network incident response (due to infection, loss of services or regional and local policy changes)..

Completes both routine and complex assignments involved in the installation, maintenance, modification, troubleshooting, repair and calibration of these complex therapeutic, diagnostic and life support medical devices and systems.

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), Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH).

Maintains required medical physicist reports and other device reports for all assigned imaging devices. As assigned, functions as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and keeps appropriate certification levels. Uses knowledge of government contract procedures and documentation requirements to develop statements of work, sole source justifications, other applicable documentation (6550, Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE), etc.) and to oversee vendor work.

Collaborates with Logistics and Contracting to procure parts and services; functions as a purchase card holder, as required. Participates in local safety improvement processes. Identifies hazards during routine job performance and takes action to ensure they are addressed and corrected. Provides training and education as appropriate to medical technology end users and clinical staff. Provides mentoring and technical training to peers and development graded BESS.

May be tasked with leading and managing installation or upgrade projects for advanced imaging or radiological devices and other medical devices and systems. This includes but is not limited to preimplementation planning and coordination with end users, vendors, and other onsite support staff (OIT, Informatics, SPS, etc.).

Additional duties are performed as assigned by supervisor related to maintenance, remediation, and tracking of advanced imaging or radiological devices and other medical devices (action items, special projects, etc.) to meet mission critical requirements. May be asked to assist in other administrative duties as well, including such as participating in hiring panels or working on VISN/National initiatives as a technical expert.

Represents Biomedical/Clinical Engineering department on committees and in meetings as delegated by supervisor. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized