EBME Forums Forums Management Training Competency Based Training

Not only this but it would be useful if there were national or at least NHS/Manufacturer recognised minimum standards to adhere to so that the qualifications and competency can be assessed by those in a position to do so. As for Medical Engineers being regulated there are many out there who've voluntarily regulated themselves, i.e. they meet minimum standards of education, training and experience, as per that laid out in the VRCT.

It's a start I suppose but in addition to this many are professionally registered Engineers with nationally/internationally accredited higher qualifications and some have even received formal training, as it was considered at the time, in Medical Physics equipment maintenance that was nationally recognised when training was being undertaken by the regional health authorities.

A really interesting debate and certainly one that we take seriously at GE - I have attached a contribution from our Healthcare Academy Manger that I hope you will find useful

All GE Healthcare Monitoring, Anaesthesia and Cardiology Clinical Specialists are qualified teachers to Certificate of Education Level or are working towards that qualification. All of our training offerings in the Healthcare Academy are accredited by the Royal College of Anaesthetists and Royal College of Nursing (for monitoring and anaesthesia) and the Royal College of Physicians (for Cardiology). Technical training is currently under preparation for accreditation by the Institute of Biomedical Sciences.

All of our Academy training documents and manuals are freely available on request (including competency guides and teaching references). All of our Link Trainers (key trainers) are supplied with a CD containing our entire clinical training documentation and regular contact with a GE Clinical Specialist is maintained. We also conduct an annual Study Day for all of our GE Link Trainers.

Regards, Mike.

Mike Picthall
GE Healthcare
Technologies
Manager, The Healthcare Academy UK

Hi Mike,

I was perusing your introductory letter outlining the services provided by the GE academy, earlier-on. Some of the larger, more reputable, companies are now pushing their commitment to training, both technical and clinically-biased. For Nursing staff and technicians, in particular, I think it will become more important that recognised, accredited, training is provided by professional, dedicated, experts.

Richard,

Your comments are very interesting.

Undoubtedly, despite resistance, EBME departments should have some involvement in the area of Medical Device training. Few departments are better placed within most Trusts and our role should be shifting to accomodate the prevailing environment.

External Companies have certainly identified a need, but in many cases we come across, the end result is often dubious at best (and 'big' is not necessarily beautiful).

Some accountability in quality of delivery all we would like. e.g. A governing body with some bite; UKAS Accreditation .. ah dream on.

--

There is a further tandem discussion over the content and questions of training delivery at the point of equipment purchase (PPQ):

see THIS POST .

Yes I agree Chris - training out there is a bit hit and miss. In view of this I'm pursuing a nationally accredited and recognised course in delivering learning myself - given the demand from operators for provision of training in general aspects of medical device use. Plus I will then feel more comfortable when criticising trainers whether they're manufacturers representatives or from EBME. Putting my money where my mouth is, so to speak.

I would like to ask a general question of the EBME community on technical training costs, and also specifically direct this t'wards Mr Picthall of GE.

"What do people out there think of the COST of technical training being supplied by manufacturers and is it seen as vfm from the course content/duration etc."

Thanks