EBME Forums Forums Management Professional Issues VRCT registration eligibility

The rejects are those dudes I was talking about! LOL.

Yes, I know you're a hospital tech. And I've been in quite a few of both types of situations myself, by the way ... although I freely admit that I'm more comfortable in my track bottoms and T-shirts these days!

OK ... here's the challenge to All and Sundry:- what is the reason for this seemingly never-ending "push" (drag?) for Registration? In a single succinct (and, dare I suggest, rational and unemotional) paragraph, please.

VRCT may well die when all the trusts sign 30 year managed service contracts so all their current medical physics and EBME staff are then transferred to the managed service provider.

Then IPEM will have little say in the process as you can be sure the big companies will not allow restricted practices to continue!

Having those who work within the medical environment registered, HPC style, is a good idea to stop rouge individuals from endangering others but there is no need for such strict educational requirements, as these have little to do with ultimate patient safety. Basically only those who have mental health or competency issues, which are reported to the registration body, should be excluded from working on medical equipment and within the medical environment.

Interesting comments.

But why can't any miscreant be simply sacked by the employer?

"Rouge individuals"? Criminals, you mean?

How about illegal immigrants? Are they included?

Lot's of thorny questions there, Mike. How to define, or demonstrate (lack of) competency? And how about discrimination against the unhealthy? ... etc., etc.

No need for all these mine-fields. Just draw up a water-tight Contract of Employment, and hold employees to that!

And, I might add, surely I'm not the only one who has noticed the recent trend towards short-term (or fixed term) "permanent" employment contracts. A contradiction in terms? Probably.

As they could just go and get another medical engineers job somewhere else!

Rouges could include those with criminal intent such as theft, drug misuse, perverts and those who may want to harm others as happened with Dr. Shipman. There my be those who escape criminal proceedings who you would rather not practice within the medical environment.

On your first point ... I was anticipating that response (and therefore have my answer ready):-

What's to prevent the new employer to 'phone (email, whatever) the previous employer (and check out the candidate), just as would need to be done to "check" the Register?

If employers can't be bothered to check out references, and then things "go wrong" later, then who is at fault?

One other point, if I may. In my many years of biomeding (in HM Forces, then overseas, and in the UK) I have come across biomed techs of all types; from the Genius Guys to the totally useless. Sadly, some have even been somewhat destructive (as in, prone to damaging the kit they were supposed to be fixing). However (although my memory may not be as sharp as it once was), I cannot recall a single case where a patient was harmed by the action (or indeed, inaction) of any of those guys.

I can see the case for medics to be registered with the HPC (or whomever), because they are healthcare providers or practitioners, almost exclusively working in hospitals, clinics etc. interfacing directly with patients. It is right and proper that the Public expects such folk to be "Registered" (if only that they, the Public, may feel reassured - sometimes falsely it would seem - that "all is well", or at least being managed correctly).

On the other hand, so-called biomed techs are engineering technicians - support staff, in the same way as those who clean and maintain the building, work in the laundries or kitchens, the charity workers, the security guard (if any) and all the rest, are. Our interaction with patients should be, if at all, indirect. That is, there should always be a Registered person (medic etc.) alongside to oversee the situation when we come into contact with patients. It is that person who should be "calling the shots" (and holds the over-riding Duty of Care).

Biomeds are not healthcare providers. But that does not mean that we are a bunch of uncaring jerks, crashing around the hospital, out of control, and simply doing as we please. Neither are we ignorant, insensitive clods. Quite the opposite, in fact, if my own experiences are anything to go by. Neither does it mean that we have to be "brought to heel", made to "toe the line" (or whatever other metaphor we could dream up).

In no way can I see patients being "protected" from "rogue" biomeds (if such a person ever exists) by names written on a piece of paper, or not, as the case may be.

Hi RoJo.

To be honest this is the impression that I have been given, that VRCT registration is mandatory for some vacancies, including NHS ones.

One other thing that I would like to point out, is that in no way am I under the impression, that having a masters makes me more knowledgeable than people who have gained their knowledge through work. I understand that I have to start from the very bottom (even if that means not getting paid) as long as I can be offered future career opportunities or at least work experience. The problem is though that to get a job you need work experience and to get work experience you need a job...
Thanks

Kind Regards
Fotios

Have any of you actually seen the quality of the candidates coming out of colleges and universities these days?

As an example look at Eastwood Park, entry requirements are GCSE's and experience of work in medical equipment field. But that experience doesn't guarantee a level of electronics knowledge and the engineering science is limited to a 30 credit module. Therefore how ever excellent the Eastwood park training courses are you can still get people coming out who don't have the basics in electrical/electronics.

It's similar in other colleges and universities and the favourite is usually Mechtronics courses. (although there are still good courses out there) Either they don't teach the practical skills like soldering or they go too practical and don't teach the fundamentals of engineering.

So Geoff it's often the case that even the "rogue" biomed is like the proverbial rocking horse doovers and thus what might have got you sacked in the past won't in the present climate.

The same reason that almost no companies will provide anyone with a reference these days, the possibility of litigation!

The intimate access to medical equipment and locations, which if compromised, could pose a threat to patients is much greater than that posed by cleaners and other ancillary staff. Engineers competency can also directly affect a patients safety if a medical device is not adjusted and maintained correctly (x-ray dose set too high, infusion pump flow settings not accurately calibrated etc.). Generally medical engineers are not as closely monitored as those involved in ancillary professions and this means a higher level of professional competency and monitoring is required. This may be best performed by an independent body as with the GMC or HPC.

But all this raises interesting debate which will only be ended if the government decides to enforce registration of medical engineers, which I am sure we will see this anytime soon given the current economic conditions.

Makes me wonder how we've managed until now. Perhaps we've just "gotten away with it" these past forty years or so, do you reckon?

Let's face it folks, this VRCT thing is Dead in the Water now. If "they" had cracked on with it right at the beginning, articulating clearly what it was all about (or, if you like, sold the idea properly, and dare I say, with a bit more "vim and vigour"), then perhaps by this time it would have been a Done Deal.

I suggest that the whole thing should be quietly shelved. And then, perhaps in a few (or better still, ten or so) years time, some Bright Spark can come up with something similar. Meanwhile (whilst they are sitting around twiddling their thumbs), perhaps "they" could put out some "consultation documents" (or whatever) to canvas opinion amongst the biomed community.

As I have said before, I quite like the Certification (of Biomeds) model used in the USA, so why not kick off with that idea ... ?

Geoff,

I am sorry but I am afraid you are still way out of kilter! I am happy to tell you that the VRCT is not "Dead in the Water" but is very much still a viable and growing concern. We have over 3,250 registrants the majority of whom are medical engineering technologists. Furthermore, we are not twiddling our thumbs but are actively progressing a number of future options.

Our first priority is still statutory regulation for the profession - that is Clinical Technologists. So watch out for our Patient Safety Camapign starting in the New Year. Secondly we are engaging with the Professional Standards Authority, The Academy for Healthcare Science and IPEM in pursuing the other option of Assured Voluntary Registration. Additionally, members of the professional bodies, ART, IET and IPEM continue to work with the Department of Health to finalise the Modernising Scientific Careers BSc programmes in both the Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering disiplines. Much of the Medical Engineering input comes from senior medical engineering technologists.

Thus your idea of certification (which we have discussed numerous times over the years!) is on the way. It just looks different from the model that you have been proposing. Furthermore it will include the necessary practical training and be properly accredited and quality assured. This is actually an exciting time for the profession. I too wish I was 40 years younger!

No doubt you will tell me I am incorrect, or don't know the ways of the World but I can live with that. And I am sure I remember you and I agreeing to disagree on many occasions!

Best Wishes

Jim