Healthcare Technology Management Biomedical An overview of Equipment or Biomedical Equipment Technology © D. J. McMahon 150505

Functions of HTM Techs: > Maintain > Repair > Install > Educate Users > Interface with IT > Support Purchasing

What kind of equipment ? Monitors for X-ray Units ECG blood pressure O2 saturation etc Defibrillators Heart-Lung pumps Ventilators Electrosurgical Units Medical Lasers Dialysis Machines X-ray Units CT Scanners Ultrasound MRI Units Clinical Lab Devices Centrifuges Microscopes Blood Analyzers etc

Major Divisions of HTM: > General Clinical Equipment - monitoring devices, diagnostic equipment, therapeutic devices, & assistive devices. > Imaging Equipment - X-ray, CT scanners, fluoroscopes, ultrasound, MRI, etc. > Clinical Laboratory Equipment - centrifuges, cell counters, microscopes, etc.

Where do they work ?

Where are they trained? In the U.S., large majority train at 2-year colleges: - ~ 45 schools currently in the U.S. - most offer an AAS degree Dept. of Defense: combined Armed Forces BMET school - located at Fort Sam Houston near San Antonio, TX

Compensation: Medical Equipment Technicians are paid somewhat more than electronics technicians. Compensation depends on many variables: - experience - factory training credentials - region of the country - type of employer

Continuing Education: Equipment-specific training through manufacturer service schools. Current topics and reviews through society meetings, journals, & webinars. Specific training in imaging technology or clinical lab equipment.

Negative Aspects of HTM: - Consequences of Error - potential for patient injury or death - potential for delayed or cancelled treatment - potential for equipment damage or loss - Environmental Hazards - infectious disease, chemicals, X-rays, etc. - On-call Duty, Evening & Weekend Hours

Prerequisite Skills: Social Skills are essential: > Equipment techs deal with a wide variety of medical personnel who differ in education, ethnicity, and language skills. > Communication Skills are essential: Must have good writing and speaking competencies .

HTM Course at North Seattle: - Chemistry - Physics - Basic Anatomy & Physiology - Medical Terminology - Electronics (DC & AC, Analog, Digital, etc) - Medical Equipment Technology - Information Technology - Externship

HTM Skills Exercises at North Seattle: Use recent medical devices and test equipment Emphasis on Shop Skills: practice with hand tools, soldering, disassembly Performance Verification: ‘Preventive Maintenance’ of devices, electrical safety checks Troubleshooting: finding and repairing defects Skills exercises are ~ 35% of the student’s grade

HTM Externship: Student is placed in the Clinical Engineering Dept of a local hospital, or medical device manufacturer. Must get at least 220 hours of work experience. Must write logs of his/her experience each week. Required for graduation.

Online References for the HTM Student: - AAMI: The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation. (Washington DC) www.aami.org/student - 24x7 Magazine: www.24x7mag.com - TechNation Magazine: 1technation.com/

Certification : CBET: Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician CRES: Certified Radiological Equipment Specialist CLES: Certified Laboratory Equipment Specialist > Administered thru AAMI > Comprehensive exam + work experience > Renewal every 3 years > Valuable in hiring and promotion

Questions ?