Biomedical Equipment Technician
A Bio-Medical Equipment Technician, also referred to as a Biomed, Biomedical Engineering Technologist (BMET), Biomed Equipment Technician, a Biomedical Equipment Specialist (BES) or Electronics and Biomedical Engineer (EBME) is a highly skilled electromechanical technologist that ensures that medical equipment is safe, functional and properly configured. They are employed by hospitals, clinics, private sector, and the military. These persons install, inspect, maintain, repair, calibrate, modify and design biomedical equipment and support systems to adhere to medical standard guidelines. Biomeds are involved in the total management of healthcare technology beyond repairs and scheduled maintenance; such as, capitol asset planning, project management, budgeting and personnel management, designing interfaces and integrating medical systems, training end-users to utilize medical technology, and evaluating new devices for acquisition. BMETs educate and advise staff and other agencies on theory of operation, physiological principles, and safe clinical application of biomedical equipment maintaining the facility's patient care and medical staff equipment.
The acceptance of the biomedical equipment technician in the private sector was given a big push in 1970 when consumer advocate Ralph Nader wrote an article in which he claimed, "At least 1,200 people a year are electrocuted and many more are killed or injured in needless electrical accidents in hospitals."
These technicians perform much work in the biomedical/clinical engineering field that consists of and cover a vast array of different fields and devices. However, in many cases there is a separation of responsibilities where the Biomedical Technologist works strictly with all patient care equipment, while an Imaging Repair Specialist works strictly on medical/diagnostic imaging equipment.
Examples of different areas of Medical equipment technology are: Diagnostic Imaging: Radiographic and fluoroscopic X-ray, Diagnostic ultrasound, Mammography, Nuclear Imaging, Positron emission tomography (PET), Medical imaging, Computed Tomography (CT), Linear Tomography, Picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI scanner)
Biomedical Technology Physiological monitoring, Electron microscope, Sterilization, LASERs, Dental, Telemedicine, Heart Lung Device, DaVinci Surgical Robot, Optometry, Surgical Instruments, Infusion pumps, Surgical instruments, Anesthesia, Laboratory, Dialysis, Respiratory Services (ventilators) Computer Networking Systems integration, Information Technology, Patient Monitoring, and Cardiac Diagnostics
BMETs work closely with nursing staff, and Medical Material personnel to obtain parts, supplies, and equipment and even closer with facility management to coordinate equipment installations requiring certain facility requirements/modifications.
Read more about Biomedical Equipment Technician: Regulatory Issues, Biomedical Equipment Technology Training, Professional Certification, Employment, Military Roles
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