Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (Information Systems)
Job Summary
The incumbent serves as a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) specialized in Information Systems within a Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) department at the Iowa City VA Medical Center.
Duties include but are not limited to the following:
- Manages and maintains medical servers and networks diagnostic software virtual platforms and clinical applications software.
- Manages projects involving medical equipment and clinical systems to include procurement installation and maintenance.
- Manages hardware components of virtual servers physical servers and medical workstations.
- Facilitates operating system updates upgrades and virus protection.
- Identifies troubleshoots and completes corrective action for issues related to networked medical equipment and clinical systems.
- Evaluates compatibility and adaptability of medical equipment and clinical systems to integrate with the electronic health record or other clinical systems.
- Reviews coordinates and implements available software patches updates and system/data backups with staff and manufacturers.
- Coordinates implements and manages cybersecurity measures and disaster recovery plans.
- Effectively responds to investigates and documents cybersecurity incidents involving medical equipment and clinical systems.
- Responds to and remediates hazard alerts recall notifications and incidents concerning medical equipment and clinical systems. Documents all actions in the appropriate system.
- Monitors cybersecurity metrics and initiates corrective action to address deficiencies.
- Complies with the facilities medical device protection program.
- Manages the lifecycle of medical equipment and clinical systems.
- Troubleshoots medical equipment and clinical systems using a variety of technical data and completes corrective action.
- Documents all work in the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
- Maintains and enhances knowledge in technological advancements through professional development and technical training.
- Other duties as assigned.
Telework: Ad Hoc Emergency Telework MAY BE Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
- All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
- Must have a valid drivers license.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
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 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.
- 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.
- Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.
- English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified.
Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (Information Systems) GS-12.
- Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-11).
- Knowledge Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Knowledge of Health Level 7 (HL7) and Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standards.
- Knowledge of advanced testing methods to troubleshoot networked medical equipment and clinical system interfaces.
- Skill in maintaining computer and server based medical equipment databases and software.
- Skill in managing medical equipment and clinical system projects that interface with an electronic health record or other information systems.
- Skill in applying cybersecurity standards to medical devices and clinical systems such as Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines.
- Ability to apply information security tools including virus protection software updates and operating system patches.
- Ability to establish a medical network including VLAN configuration Internet Protocol addressing and network security.
Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.
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: 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:
The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care you will operate in a model with three core elements seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veterans community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor Americas Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.
Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38 and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations Security and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Experience:
IC