EBME Forums Forums Management Professional Issues Why Clinical technician?

On the Registration theme
Why Clinical technician? (Is it that when you say 'EBME' clinical staff say - Who")
Also what names are out there? I would like to hear. We are EBME. However we got fed up explaining that so it's in the process of changing to Medical engineering.
I don't want to debate the reasons or meaning, just get a feel of who would be encompassed by 'Clinical technician'.

This was on of the reasons we changed to Clinical Engineering a couple of years ago.

One of the best jobs I ever had carried the official title of 'Medical Equipment Repairman'. No need for further explanation there, I wouldn't have thought!

I head the Trust Medical Physics Department which includes radiation, laser protection, telecommunications, specialised techniceal services and Medical equipment management. we answer the phone as Medical Physics and the MTOs are known as Medical Physics Technicians. usrs know who we are and what we do, no confusion and above all regarded as extremely professional department.
Thereis no future for Repair departments. repair no longer exists and all will disappear under exteneded warranty offered by suppliers.
alex

I think we should all register with our psychiatrists or go for psychoanalysis rather than VRCT. I fear we are suffering an identity crisis. Are we Medical Technical Officers(MTO) or Medical Physics Technicians(MPT) or are we Medical Technologists(MT). Who the hell cares what a title means. We are the guys who fix things. We are the guys who makes things better. We are the guys that the nursing and medical staff reach for in the middle of a crisis when they cannot resolve a problem. So what do call ourselves? SUPERTECH.

I disagree that we will be superceded by extended warranties. What the guys at the face want is somebody there when something goes wrong, somebody to hold there hand and say that everything will be all right on the night. They will not get that from an extended warranty. They want immediate action, even if it;s just to say that there is no hope. It's b*gg*red! It's beyond repair.

Who looks after the little things? The little things that matter. We do.

Has any one thought of one name that we can call ourselves?

I agree with Joe.
In Ireland we are Clinical Engineering and our job titles are xxx Clinical Engineering Technician. xxx being your grade; Basic, Senior, Principal or Chief.
Apart from fixing things though it should be remembered that in my experience it is Clinical Engineering that carry out the equipment management, write specifications for tenders, review tenders and support users.
I disagree with Alex, a repair function most definitely does exist, even in todays high technology arena. Warrantees, including extended warrantees mean nothing, especially if the vendor can not get to you quickly, or as usually is the case be on site to sort the problem (users want their equipment working all the time). At least with an on site department / section of clinical engineers the users get a quick service and advice not tainted by who you work for (vendors).

Alex I don't wish to be critical but the question was just to find whom clinical Technologist would encompass.
Whether you think your job is repair, design or first line national registration is Knocking.
Perhaps where I'm looking is 'what training needs are going to be needed in the future' in order to fulfil the tasks and roles we undertake. Whatever the role the will always need for someone to pick up a screwdriver.
By comparison try putting a radial main in your house. I bet your local government are itching to prosecute you whether you are competent or not.
It's all down to that bit of paper whether we like it or not. p.s. I don't

The RAF went through a phase of calling the department MDEMS "Medical and Dental Equipment Maintenance Section". Drop the Dental (as dental is a subset of medical in my opinion) and its a fairly relevant title with the maintenance part of the title covering the numerous aspects of keeping equipment fit for use such as rectification, ppm, spares, warranty and contractual issues.

Problem is it doesn't present a snappy acronym.

I've never been as happy with MDSS "Medical and Dental Servicing Section" it's probably the servicing part, it's just not right, makes the place sound like a garage.

However, the important issue is not what you are called but how you carry out the task.

I think the problem is that we are a broad church.

Some:-

Largely care for renal medical devices/equipment

Cover a wide range of theatre, ward and ITU medical devices/equipment

Largely set-up and care for radiotherapy medical devices/equipment

Scan patients with medical devices/equipment

Operate medical devices/equipment

Largely care for imaging medical devices/equipment

We all mainly spend our days caring for medical devices/equipment.

When asked "what do you for a living?" I tend to say I look after the hospital's medical equipment.

So are we: Medical Equipment Engineers? Medical devices/equipment carers, managers, experts?

Part II
I tend towards Alex view above that repairs will considerably reduce over the next few years “ Alex: - There is no future for Repair departments. Repair no longer exists and all will disappear under extended warranty offered by suppliers.”
Look at our TVs, Mobiles, VCRs they will be our infusion pumps, SpO2/NIBP and basic monitors in a few years time. I further predict that risk assessment analysis will considerably lower the EST requirements for new and routine equipment testing. Equipment Libraries where visual inspection is frequently undertaken will highlight faults.

Bill

Roles may change, but there will always be a need for a tech. Yes, reliability etc has improved but things still fail.

Extended warranties are a rip-off, thats why they are being seriously looked at by regulators.

My personal view is that the predicted demise of techs is like the paperless office we were all promised years ago. We use more paper than ever before.

Think about it for a moment. How many of us keep hard copies of e-mails? How many of us have hard copies of documents which are readily avilable on our PC's? Be honest!