I'm a bit confused; this thread seems to be discussing other professions, that can have involvement in equipment maintenance, at a higher level than most of us are involved at. Aren't 'Clinical Engineer' and certainly 'Clinical Scientist' protected job titles - protected by state registration and subject to regulation? Hard fought for titles usually held by qualified Engineers or Scientists whose have been formally trained and assessed 'fit to practice'.
My view of the 'club culture' is that it is membership or affiliation to the professional institutions that demonstrates commitment to the profession. However I know of registered Clinical Scientists that belong to no institution or 'club'. I'm not into justifying the systems in place but I don't feel that it's a club or a secret society - just a profession - like many of us would like to see in existence for our own job roles.
Whilst there are those in equipment management roles who may perform similar tasks and have duties that may pitch them at 'Clinical Engineer' level; the use of the title 'Medical Engineer' does not actually confer any status does it? i.e. it's not a protected title that conveys anything. The 'club', referred to by Louis, is, in my opinion, a means of excluding non-qualified TDHs from setting up in business and calling themelves what they like and practising in areas they have not formally demonstrated competence in. Doctors, Nurses, Physiotherapists, etc, etc, all have their own club if you like.
I suppose the difference between 'Clinical Engineer' and 'Medical Engineer' is that those entitled to use the protected title 'Clinical Engineer' or 'Clinical Scientist' are qualified at the appropriate level, have been trained, assessed, have demonstrated their experience and competence. Many of those who call themselves 'Medical Engineers' or 'Biomedical Engineers' in equipment maintenance (EBME usually) just have a job title bestowed on them by the employer or call themselves for the sake of their own vanity.
Whether we like it or not most of us in equipment maintenance are not qualified, trained, experienced enough, not even carrying out the duties necessary, nor required to attain 'Clinical Engineer' status to do our job: that's the fact - the arrogance is on the part of those who think they are equivalent when in fact they're not necessarily. Lets face it; most of us are qualified and experienced at Technician level and some are qualified and registered at Engineer level.
Despite many performing elements of Managerial, Scientific or Engineer roles at whatever technical level in equipment maintenance/technical support there's currently a lack of training and assessment to justify the title, the salary or career structure. Those that are qualified and experienced appropriately could have pursued a Clinical Engineering career if they had wished but they would have to go through the "training-hoops" to get there.
That's the element that seperates us. Quite simply, despite the job titles bestowed on us by the employer, we are Technicians or Technologists with unprotected titles; any old TDH can use whatever title they wish at the moment. Healthcare Scientist, Medical Technical Officer, Clinical Technologist, Medical Physics Technician, Biomedical Engineeer, Medical Engineer, Medical Electronics Technician, etc, etc, etc - a ludicrous situation for individuals carrying out much of the same work in equipment maintenance at whatever level you wish to target.
All these titles have little meaning to describe what individuals do and what qualifications, training, experience they have to possess, in their job role, at the moment. A skills lottery where demand and difficulty employing staff may put relatively poorly equipped individuals into roles that are beyond them in some cases. Only when your qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge to do your job are assessed formally, so that only those entitled to use the appropriate, protected, job title - and when everyone knows what the job involves, will it have meaning.
