I attended a IHEEM lecture recently, basically because our business spans equipment and infrastructure services I attended with our expert to learn more
The lecture on decontamination equipment, new HTM requirements was first class, some of the most learned and educated experts in the land delivered an entertaining and informative series of seminars.
Over the years I have laid out a fortune on membership of professional institutes and as a business I will continue to support them.
Two things for me were clear
1. The DH speaker in no uncertain terms made it quite clear that regarding policy, IHEEM was only one of many stakeholders, and indeed an interested party like industry with its own bias, point of veiw and aims.
Basically the DH advisor cast doubt in the minds of many as to why the AP or AE (D) status for instance relied on membership of a particular professional institute, why are certain bodies still perceived as rule makers and enforces, nothing could be further from the truth apparently, DH would like to remove myth and mystery by asking for feedback from all, whoever you belong to
2. The IHEEM education chair indicated to me that IHEEM was less relevant to the medical engineering community than I thought it might be, he even went on to point out the benefits of IPEM membership, this I thought strange for a professional institute that claims to represent those involved with healthcare engineering and a instute that absorbed the Institute of X Ray Technology amongst others.
In the IHEEM monthly going back some now, I remember a great paper by Paul Robbins and often see articles about medical equipment.
Anyway, I will continue to support professional institutes, why, because I think they are a good thing and sometimes a very good thing, you tend to get out what you put in if not for any other reason from time to time they bring together great people that do great things together and sometimes its so special that you can tell your kids or grandkids about.
As one Involved in the mentoring of others and young engineers education, I like that about the institute.
At IPEM I am sure their aims are noble and representative, more so than IHEEM it appears anyway, they try to cater for all and at all levels, they will never please everybody, but they are trying to and that says a lot, does it not.
Darren
