TSTC BET/MIT Club 2010

1. TSTC BET/MIT Club2010

2. My background: • I became interested after testing to join the USAF (May 1973) • Joined USAF 9/19/1973 • Trained at Sheppard AFB Wichita Falls, Texas (11/73 – 11/74) • General Medical Equipment Repairer – MER (all med equip including Rad) • Transferred to EhrlingBurgquestRegional USAF Hospital Omaha, Nebraska 11/74 – 9/77 • General Medical Equipment Repairer • Recruited by VA Omaha, Nebraska – started 11/6/77 • General Medical Equipment Repairer • Transferred to VA Portland, Oregon – started 1/79 • General Medical Equipment Repairer • Specialized training on PB Ventilators • Trained VA Employees at Eng Training Center Little Rock, Arkansas • Transferred to VA Lake City, Florida – started 11/86 • General Medical Equipment Repairer • Specialization in Respiratory Equipment • Converted to BioMedical Equipment Technician – BMET 1994 • Became supervisor 2/96 • Transferred to CTVHCS Temple, Texas – started 5/16/04 • Converted to Biomedical Equipment Systems Specialist 2008

3. Governing Bodies • The Joint Commission • National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) • NFPA 99 – Standard for Healthcare Facilities (particularly chapter 7) • NFPA 70 – Electrical Safety in the workplace • NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code • Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 21 • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) • Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) • Certification of Pathology (CAP) • VHA

4. Challenges for BMETS: • FROM: Full control of equipment (stand-alone devices) • TO: Partial control of equipment (component of a networked system) • Non-IT equipment

5. What to expect your first year in the field: • Starting will be minimally challenging equipment of large volumes (IV Pumps, Vital Signs, suction pumps, etc.) • All experience is valuable! • Most technicians gravitate toward the equipment they like and are most proficient repairing

6. How to get a job in VHA: • HR requires military or Technical College training and a minimum of 1 year experience in the field, because of the volume of qualified technicians wanting to work at CTX I have added an additional year (totaling 2 years) experience. • Veterans preference is helpful (military experience, with or without a disability) • Generalized training and experience

7. Characteristics of successful BMETS: • Willing to do what you’re asked with enthusiasm. • Forward thinking – thinking outside the box. • Seeing the whole picture • Total impact of equipment failure • Political impact • Process improvement • Great customer Service

8. Characteristics of successful BMETS: (Cont.) • Completing the circle – full notification of everyone involved or who may have a vested interest. • Notification of the problem from the customer • Finding out every detail of the equipment failure • What the equipment is/is not doing – knowing or giving the impression of knowledge of that specific device. • Knowing (or finding out) what back-up equipment is available • Patient impact

9. Characteristics of successful BMETS: (Cont.) • Completing the circle – full notification of everyone involved or who may have a vested interest. (cont.) • Communication with the vendor • Even if factory trained it’s a good idea to keep in contact with the vendor/OEM (networking) • Notification to Management • It is best to notify your supervisor before they are contacted by Hospital Management!

10. Characteristics of successful BMETS: (Cont.) • Completing the circle – full notification of everyone involved or who may have a vested interest. (cont.) • Solving the problem • Weighing the repair costs • In-house verses OEM • Time-frames available • Closing the loop – notifying everyone of the process and “timely” resolution

11. New Trends and Technologies: • Computer age • Networked medical equipment • Servers and server rooms • Data processing • Wireless technology • From data • To images • To equipment tracking systems

12. Data from AMMI.ORG $53,000 Median national pay 2 Years required to earn an associate’s degree in the field 59 Number of institutions offering 2-year degrees 22% Projected growth in profession from 2006-2016 87% Current BMETs who would recommend the profession to others U.S. News and World Report Ranks Biomedical Equipment Technology a Top Career In its “Best Careers for a Changing Job Landscape,” U.S. News and World Report ranks biomedical equipment technology among the top 30 careers. They offer this report card on the profession: Job Satisfaction: A Training Difficulty: A Prestige: B Job Market Outlook: A

13. Questions and Answers