Biomedical technicians install, maintain, calibrate and repair medical equipment. They require specialized training at vocational schools or community colleges, and must keep up with changes in their field. They work in hospitals, manufacturers’ sales departments or in research and development, and may have to work outside of normal business hours. They can advance to become biomedical engineers.
A biomedical technician (BMET) is trained to install, maintain, calibrate and repair medical equipment such as dialysis machines or other sophisticated equipment commonly found in doctor’s offices and hospitals. To become a biomedical technician, a person first needs to obtain a high school diploma. After earning a high school diploma, it takes two to three years of specialized training to become a biomedical technician.
Aspiring technicians can receive training at local vocational schools or community colleges. Such schools often partner with local hospitals where students can gain hands-on experience in the field. While enrolled in a biomedical technician program, students will learn how to operate and repair sensitive medical equipment.
After graduating from the program, biomedical technicians are responsible for keeping up with changes in their field. If someone wants to become a biomedical technician, they will need to learn how to repair and maintain a variety of medical equipment. The technician will be responsible for teaching other medical staff, such as nurses, how to use certain pieces of equipment as well.
Biomedical technicians work in a variety of work environments. Whether they work in hospitals, manufacturers’ sales departments or in research and development, they must be knowledgeable about the medical equipment that surrounds them on a daily basis. They should be able to make minor repairs when equipment isn’t working properly. When the equipment needs more extensive repairs, it must be able to communicate with the manufacturer about the problem so that the manufacturer can make repairs quickly and return it to the medical facility.
As the biomedical technician is always working with new and modern equipment, his job offers a lot of variety and excitement. If working in a hospital, the technician may have to work outside of normal business hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Life-saving medical equipment used in hospitals requires constant monitoring; so sometimes the technician may be on a 24 hour call. For example, the technician may be called in to repair a heart-lung machine needed by a patient who is currently connected to it. In these cases, the technician must have the ability to troubleshoot the problem quickly as life is at stake.
If a biomedical technician wants to advance in this career field, he or she has the option of earning a bachelor’s degree to become a biomedical engineer. By becoming an engineer, one is trained to research and design medical equipment. As long as there are hospitals, sick patients and complex medical machinery, the skills of a biomedical technician will be needed. If someone wants to become a biomedical technician, he or she can expect a career field that is constantly changing as medical equipment continues to advance in complexity. Those who have mechanical aptitude and are comfortable with computers and software will thrive in this particular type of career.
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