EBME Forums Forums Management Professional Issues IPEM Registration

True for some cases Roger but not me Im afraid, I graduated in "Medical Electronics and Instrumentation" and thats the field where I have always worked! I love my job, just a shame that a Boys Club Clique wont let me join? Any of these chaps/chapesses members here?

Eddie (black balled)

I can't understand why you would want to join, Mate. But each to his own, I guess. Who's that bloke, by the way?

Geoff (black listed)

Me actually Geoff. Yes I am a member here too! If any one has any IPEM issues then feel free to mail me.

Ah, ah! Fame at last! And deservedly so, no doubt.

And thanks for coming on here to respond to comments in this thread.

As I say, I'm unlikely to be joining myself, but I would be interested to hear (as, I'm sure, would many others) how you would respond to suggestions of inactivity etc. on the part of IPEM.

I get confused on the whole registration thing anyway. Which is the best one to join, go for the VRTC or straight for Ipem?

When registration becomes compulsary and the do-good brigade rig everything so you need a masters degree to tie a shoe lace, forcing our entire profession to be staffed by transitional students, will there be a whole new club to join and new hoops to jump through anyway?

Masters wear loafers!

Well I've just received my annual invoice from IPEM, it's such a pity that it's the only time they contact me...

My problem is that I have this : "Must be registered with the National Register of Clinical Technologists" in my job description.
I wonder if I'd be sacked if I failed to pay?

Happy days.

There's only one way to find out the answer to that one!

Excuse my ignorance, Ivor ... but you say "that it's the only time they contact" you. Is there no periodical publication, then?

In response to Geoffs request of 9:44 today.

Lets have a try.

IPEM is busy in many areas fighting for you, we currently have a heavy involvement in the Modernising Scientifc Careers Program, - yes even if you don't like it - we here in the UK in this job are for the purposes of the NHS classified as Scientfic Staff. If you want to know what it is all about then log to the DOH website - this is not the place or the thread for a discussion on that topic. We are taking the opertunity to bring this debate to peoples attention at as many meetings as possible, as those who attended the last IPEM Medical Engineering Study Day can atest.

Next we have a number of groups involved in all areas of healthcare science and engineering called special interest groups. These groups exist to promote best practice, organise meetings in peoples areas of interest. They also help comment on national documents, form working groups to create reports and other documentation - 2 recent examples are the ipem publications on risk management and electrical safety testing.

We publish a number of periodicals that members can subscribe to as well as our regular members newsletters and our in house quaterly journal, to say nothing of our placement circular advertising the latest jobs available in this area.

We have members sitting on BSI working groups and committees helping to format the standards that we are all using everyday.

We run regular study days for members the next medical engineering one will be in July of next year. We run a whole series of regular meetings allowing members to present on work in their areas of interest.

We did a large ammount of work on your behalf on the National Occupational Standards and the initial AfC role profiles.

We have a recognised training scheme covering all areas - yes including this one! We work to establish and support in-house training centres. We have a network to support our trainees and we provide moderation and support to trainees on our programms. We are also work to n accredit courses and HEI provision in this area. We run a very good CPD scheme and we are an awarding body from ECuk for Eng Tech, I eng and CEng. We are also an awarding body from the science council for Charted Scientist qualifications.

Now let us address a couple of other areas. There seems to be confussion surrounding the VRCT and IPEM. THese are two totally different bodies. The VRCT exists as a body in its own right. Yes IPEM does support it, as does the IET and ART not because we want to own it, but because all 3 professional bodies belive in what the VRCT is trying to do. All that IPEM does simply because we have the capcity to do so is provide admin services to the VRCT in much the same way as you and I provide services to any of our clients. You DO NOT have to be a member of IPEM to be a Member of the VRCT and visa versa.

Please can we seporate this discussion into IPEM registration and VRCT registration. Taking Ivors point the VRCT will contact you once per year to remind you that your dues to that body are due. All their other advice is provided on line - go and have a look. If you are a member of IPEM itself and only hearing from IPEM once a year then please let me know because you should as a member get something from us at least once a month!

IPEM itself is a professional body and yes it does have membership standards and requirements much the same as anywhere lese in life. But these standards should not be a bar to membership of IPEM or particiaption in its activities. Like anything else what you get out depends on what you put in.

Hope this helps any one with any questions, comments etc is welcome to mail me direct. If don't know the answer then I'll find you someone who does.

Paul.

Thank you for that, Paul.