Changes in Education of the Biomedical Engineering Technician
by Richard Garza
When people walk through the doors of a hospital, they take for granted all the medical devices that are in that building. They do not realize who is responsible for their upkeep or even what it takes to keep these devices running. Patients expect these machines to function and to function quickly because these devices are life-saving, and these devices are expected to function accurately all the times. This unknown, group of very valuable people, are called the Biomedical Engineering Technologist (BMET). “These individuals are highly specialized repair and maintenance technicians” (Croswell, 1995). The BMET, as they are referred to, is a growing field that is needed in hospitals, private health care, the military, and for the manufacturer of medical devices with companies such as Philips HealthCare, Inc.
Thanks to the military, the BMET became an independent career. The military would often test and improve new medical devices. Personnel were needed to maintain these devices, and that is how the birth of the Biomedical Engineering Technician came about. Students who had not received their education as a BMET in the military needed to be taught. The proper education of a BMET is quite important and changes quickly as does the field of medicine. Medical devices utilize sophisticated mechanics as well as computer electronics; therefore these students needed the education available outside of the military. With the development of a new way to treat a patient, comes into play the development of a new medical device. So the curriculum of a BMET is ever changing and becoming more involved in the field of medicine as well as the field of computer technology.