Healthcare

Management Technology

An overview of

or

Biomedical Equipment Technology

© D. J. McMahon 150505

> Maintain

> Repair

> Install

> Educate Users

> Interface with IT

> Support Purchasing

Functions of HTM Techs:

What kind of equipment ?

X-ray Units

CT Scanners

Ultrasound

MRI Units

Clinical Lab Devices-Centrifuges-Microscopes-Blood Analyzers-etc

Monitors for-ECG-blood pressure-O2 saturation-etc

Defibrillators

Heart-Lung pumps

Ventilators

Electrosurgical Units

Medical Lasers

Dialysis Machines

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:

Equipment techs deal with a wide variety of medical personnel who differ in education, ethnicity, and language skills.

> Social Skills are essential:

> 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 Exercisesat 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 ?