Lead Biomedical Engineering Technologist

Job Description

Summary

Are you an experienced Biomedical Engineering Technologist with project management and supervisory experience looking to be part of a diverse interdisciplinary team with a fantastic culture doing impactful work in public health care?

Did we mention competitive compensation and a great benefits package including unlimited massage and physiotherapy? 

The Lower Mainland Biomedical Engineering (LMBME) consolidated group under Providence Health Care is currently accepting applications for Biomedical Engineering Technologists at our various sites across the Lower Mainland, including a temporary, full-time Lead Biomedical Engineering Technologist (Senior/Technical Consultant) at Surrey Memorial Hospital .

As a Lead, you'd be part of an integrated team providing a full range of biomedical engineering services in support of the safe, efficient and effective utilization of medical technology across Fraser Health, Providence Health Care, Provincial Health Services Authority and Vancouver Coastal Health. Providing advanced technical advice, support, and consultation to technologists and end users, Leads support the team supervisor by supervising a subset of the team for project work, daily operations and technical aspects for specific sites or areas within the team of up to 8 full-time staff. In addition, you would work collaboratively with supervisors, educators and other stakeholders to develop, implement and evaluate a range of formal and informal education programs and learning plans, including individual and group learning assessments and opportunities, while still keeping your hands-on skill set sharp by performing a full range of technologist duties for a wide variety of biomedical and electronic equipment, devices and ancillary products used for patient diagnosis and treatment.

Lead roles with Providence and LMBME offer a very competitive benefits package for eligible employees, from medical/dental benefits (including unlimited massage and physiotherapy) and pension plan to paid vacation and the stability and job security of a unionized position.

If you'd like to learn more, apply today No cover letter required. 

Please note that this is a hands-on, medical device maintenance-focused Biomedical Engineering Technologist role and not a Clinical Engineering position. We post openings for Biomedical Clinical Engineers separately.

Biomedical Enginering Technologists at LMBME and PHC

Our Technologists play a crucial role in medical device maintenance, ensuring our clinical teams are able to provide the essential services that make up the robust public health care system in our province. Being a Technologist with Providence and LMBME means joining a tight-knit and supportive departmental working environment that fosters a sense of community amongst professionals dedicated to patient care. As a member of the team, you'll have access to incredible opportunities for interdisciplinary learning, mentorship, and professional development. LMBME is a consolidated group that supports a huge variety of sites and clinical settings from hyperbaric chambers to operating rooms, allowing you to diversify your experience and work with a range of interdisciplinary teams from Fraser Health Authority, Providence Health Care, Provincial Health Services Authority, and Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH). 

LMBME - who we are:

Lower Mainland Biomedical Engineering (LMBME) focuses primarily on health care technology management by providing a wide range of technical and engineering expertise. Under Providence Health Care (PHC), LMBME serves four health organizations in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia:

Fraser Health Authority (FHA​) Providence Health Care (PHC) Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)

LMBME acts as the technology resource and manages medical devices throughout their entire life cycle; starting from the planning for purchase and development of specifications stage, through the purchasing, implementation, maintenance, and finally, end of life and disposition stage. LMBME's 190+ technologists support more than 100,000 medical devices spread across 27 major hospitals and additional sites such as correctional facilities, dialysis units, etc.

LMBME also plays a key role in technology management related to patient safety. It conducts medical equipment incident investigations, monitors medical equipment recalls and alerts, and identifies potential hazards with medical technology.

What we offer:

Great life-work balance, with a standard Monday to Friday 8AM-4PM schedule instead of shift work and weekends  Competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefit package for eligible employees  Opportunities for hands-on training with vendors and experienced mentors As a single-point employer for all public hospitals throughout Greater Vancouver, opportunities to transfer sites and explore a wide range of medical devices, clinical settings, and specializations Pathways to leadership and specialization in networked medical devices/cybersecurity/data integrations

Providence - who we are: 

Providence is a non-profit healthcare provider with over fifteen sites, including a large tertiary hospital in the heart of Vancouver’s beautiful and vibrant Downtown, a smaller community hospital in the idyllic Mount Pleasant neighborhood, one of the largest referral centres for rehabilitation in British Columbia, and five long-term care facilities, as well as other clinics. 

As a leading teaching and research organization, and the provincial referral center for Cardiac, HIV/AIDS, and Renal Care, we provide services ranging from acute and long-term care to leading substance use and addiction treatment supporting some of BC’s most marginalized communities. Guided by the motto “how you want to be treated”, delivering exceptional patient and family-centered care is our mission.

Why Providence and LMBME?

Curious about working in public health care, the culture of our teams, or what life as a Technologist with LMBME would actually be like? Check out the video below to meet some of the members of the team you'd be joining and see the spaces you'd be working in:

Job Summary

The Biomedical Engineering Technologist Lead, (Senior/Technical Consultant) is part of an integrated team, which provides a full range of biomedical engineering services in support of the safe, efficient and effective utilization of medical technology across Fraser Health, Providence Health Care, Provincial Health Services Authority and Vancouver Coastal Health (collectively, the “Organizations“). The Biomedical Engineering Technologist Lead provides advanced technical advice, support, and consultation to Biomedical Engineering Technologists and to users of Clinical and Biomedical Engineering-related Technology and Equipment across the Lower Mainland Consolidated Service for Biomedical Engineering (LMCS BMET). The Lead supports the Team Supervisor by supervising a subset of the team for project work, daily operations and technical aspects for specific sites or areas within the team of up to 8 FTEs.

The Lead provides advanced technical support in the planning, implementing and functioning of Clinical/BMET-related Technology and Equipment. Oversees and leads assigned biomedical engineering projects with a focus on improving existing care delivery systems, capital equipment planning, incident reporting, and asset management. Provides technical and lead support at an advanced administrative level, develops and implements approved policies and procedures and business management processes, undertakes new and upgraded technology assessments as required, and conducts staff training as required. Evaluates the project/service outcomes upon completion. Consults, confers and collaborates with others in the promotion of continuous quality improvement, resolution of issues, and coordination of activities required for progressive and optimal BME services.

The Biomedical Engineering Lead also coordinates, monitors, ensures and/or provides visible, accessible support, education, and training to Biomedical Engineering Technologists. Serves as a technical and learning resource for staff. Works collaboratively with Supervisors, Educator and other stakeholders to develop, implement and evaluate a range of formal/informal education programs and learning plans, including individual and group learning assessments and opportunities as required. Advises designated Director(s) of issues or corrective action needed regarding individual and group learning needs. In addition, performs a full range of biomedical engineering technologist duties for a wide variety of biomedical and electronic equipment, devices and ancillary products used for patient diagnosis and treatment.

Qualifications / Skills and Education

Education, Training, and Experience
Graduation from a recognized program in Biomedical Engineering Technology. A minimum five (5) years recent, related technical experience in the field of Biomedical Engineering (including experience in technology assessment and equipment planning, evaluation and selection) with at least one (1) year experience in project management and one (1) year experience in a management/supervisory position (project management and supervisory experience may have been obtained concurrently with technical experience) or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Employer will consider completed management/training courses towards equivalency to supervisory experience.
Eligibility for certification with the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of British Columbia as an Applied Science Technologist.
Valid BC Drivers License and access to a personal vehicle to travel with tools and equipment for work purposes.

Skills and Abilities
•Demonstrated ability to provide advanced technical advice, training, and consultation to Biomedical Engineering Technologists and clinical staff on a variety of technology and equipment related to biomedical engineering services.
•Demonstrated ability to coach, mentor and supervise staff.
•Ability to prepare technical documentation, instructional resources, and training materials.
•Comprehensive knowledge of the operating and maintenance practices and procedures for relevant medical equipment, current computer troubleshooting and networking knowledge, and proven component-level repair skills.
•Working knowledge of Asset Management systems, Patient Safety Learning System, Equipment Alert, Hazards and Recalls, and Loss Reduction.
•Broad knowledge of project design, management principles and methodologies, and demonstrated ability to develop and lead project strategies.
•Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a highly dynamic environment.
•Demonstrated ability to collaborate in a team environment.
•Demonstrated ability to organize work.
•Demonstrated ability to address issues with analytical reasoning and problem solving skills.
•Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbal and in writing.
•Demonstrated ability to deal courteously with vendors, colleagues, hospital staff and equipment users in stressful situations.
•Demonstrated ability to operate related equipment, including test equipment and tools.
•Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position, including walking/standing for long periods, lifting equipment (up to 25 kg), working with delicate instrumentation requiring manual dexterity and normal vision, with or without correction.

Duties and Responsibilities

1.Provides leadership and advanced technical advice and consultation to Biomedical Engineering Technologists and to users of Clinical & Biomedical Engineering-related Technology and Equipment.
2.Coordinates, leads and monitors the implementation of assigned biomedical engineering projects and ensures successful and coordinated completion of project components by methods such as executing project plan according to project methodologies, facilitating consensus with stakeholders as needed, overseeing assigned staff and project resources, tracking project progress, monitoring and reporting on the status of projects, and making recommendations regarding project scope changes.
3.Maintains ongoing support for assigned projects from user groups and other stakeholders and works to remove barriers to successful completion of projects with emphasis on resolving issues and facilitating collaborative relationships by ensuring effective communication and reporting channels are in place. Provides training and/or in-service education as relevant to the project/service implementation and prepares all supporting materials and presentations by researching elements as required.
4.Develops new, and implements approved policies and procedures, and business management processes associated with the implementation of the project/service by investigating the feasibility of alternatives, making recommendations and preparing initial drafts for approval. Evaluates outcomes by monitoring policy and business change implementation, seeking feedback from user groups, maintaining communication with concerned parties through to resolution, and making recommendations for future changes. Receives, investigates and resolves issues arising from user group feedback.
5.Orientates, supports, and coaches team members, preceptors/preceptees in BMET skills and behaviours implementing role modeling, mentoring, and individual and team education/teaching. Assesses and validates individual and team learning needs, and requests for education programs, by performing duties such as observing activities, discussing issues with team members and analyzing data such as staff competency assessments and growth plans, practice changes, and quality improvement indicators, to determine specific educational/training requirements.
6.Develops and implements individual growth plans to address identified individual and team learning needs by coordinating the development and implementation process with the designated Supervisor and other designated personnel and ensuring there is a growth plan for each staff member. Provides regular updates to the designated Director(s) on the learning progress of staff.
7.Facilitates learning by acting as a resource, demonstrating expertise and leadership. Monitors staff progress against the growth plan and modifies/updates plans as needed to support staff’s ability for achievement. Implements a variety of teaching/learning strategies that are congruent with the determined growth/ learning plans.
8.Collaborates with the LM BME Educator, Team Supervisors and other stakeholders in the planning, development, and implementation, and evaluation of formal/informal educational programs and proposals for staff to meet learning needs. Assists with coordinating and scheduling timely educational activities. Provides input and contributes to revision of education content as needed.
9.Participates in orientation of new staff and students by demonstrating technical procedures, usage of equipment, and interpretation of inspection tests, monitoring progress, and ensuring policies and procedures are respected; provides input to the Supervisor or designated personnel as requested on individual's progress in achieving established standards of practice.
10.Supervises designated staff by performing duties such as determining shift schedules, assigning and coordinating work, facilitating resolutions to work issues, ensuring completion of service documentation, and providing technical assistance. Acts as a positive role model for staff by using appropriate and effective communication, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution methods. Troubleshoots staffing/scheduling related issues and ensures coverage of designated service areas with appropriately trained team members.
11.Performs demand maintenance on a wide variety of biomedical and electronic equipment, devices and ancillary products such as patient monitors, defibrillators, ventilators, incubators, centrifuges, hemodialysis machines, anaesthetic machines, electrosurgical units, heart-lung perfusion equipment, and medical imaging equipment by methods such as testing, calibrating, troubleshooting, repairing and upgrading performance to ensure equipment, devices and ancillary products are operating safely, effectively and efficiently in the most cost effective manner in compliance with the manufacturer’s specifications.
12.Carries out preventative maintenance routines, inspections and evaluations using a variety of test equipment and tools such as safety analyzers, conductivity meters, oscilloscopes, multimeters and defibrillator testers to ensure medical equipment is in proper working order. Monitors radiation levels of equipment using a radiation meter to ensure levels are within established limits. Maintains and calibrates test equipment.
13.Documents activities and maintains complete and accurate records by methods such as preparing service files on existing and/or new equipment, maintaining detailed records on equipment service histories, recording all demand and preventative maintenance on equipment, and tracking warranty programs. Informs clinical staff on the status of their medical equipment inventory and prepares preventative maintenance, performances assurance and operating procedures and schedules.
14.Provides orientation and/or technical support to clinical staff, other hospital staff and patients on matters related to medical technology by methods such as identifying user and patient needs, reviewing and evaluating technical material, compiling information such as appropriate equipment practices, writing technical procedures for the operation of equipment, devices and ancillary products in the clinical environment, preparing appropriate training materials, demonstrating procedures on the use of the equipment to ensure optimal performance and safety, and providing related information/advice as required.
15.Participates in the selection, evaluation, and installation of medical equipment by interpreting clinical needs, developing technical specifications, identifying vendors, reviewing vendor submissions, evaluating equipment for technical acceptance and safety prior to selection, and making recommendations for purchase. Works in conjunction with the vendor, the clinical area and other departments to plan and implement the installation of equipment. Performs incoming safety and performance inspections to ensure conformance with manufacturer’s specifications and other safety standards and regulations. Determines tool, instrumentation and spare part requirements for equipment maintenance and assists clinical areas in ordering accessories and supplies by identifying suitable sources, evaluating products for clinical and cost effectiveness and completing purchase requisitions as required.
16.Participates in a variety of risk management and quality improvement activities to enhance and ensure the safety of patients and staff by methods such as responding to incidents involving medical technology, inspecting the equipment involved, collecting information and documenting all aspects of the investigation, and providing input into the development and implementation of recommendations to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. Identifies hazards and submits hazard reports as required when deficiencies are observed.
17.Researches and provides input into the modification, redesign and/or development of biomedical devices and technology in order to improve the quality of patient care or to reduce costs.
18.Provides consultation at point of care to clinical areas such as operating rooms and the intensive care bedside while biomedical devices are in use by performing duties such as setting up and operating various biomedical devices such as lasers, hyperbaric chambers and emerging technologies.
19.Maintains an understanding of clinical procedures and practices involving medical devices and related technology such as sterile techniques and operating room protocol to ensure the ability to interpret customer needs. Keeps abreast of changing technologies and procedures by participating in professional development activities, reviewing journals and literature, and attending training courses and seminars. Interacts with vendors, manufacturers and regulatory agencies on technology related issues.
20.Performs other related duties as assigned.

Vaccination Flag

As per the current Public Health Orders (Long Term Care/Seniors Assisted Living Provincial Health Order and the Health Sector Order), as of October 26, 2021, all employees working for Providence Health Care must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required.

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