TMS
Student Ground
Page 25
BMETs & The Human Simulator
Written By Roy Ruiz
Human Patient Simulation in BMET education
Training in the health professions has come a long way. The implementation of Human Patient Simulation and hi-fidelity simulators has
greatly improved effective training among nursing programs as well as
other health professions. Working as a lab tech in the Dr. Frank Bryant
Jr. Patient Simulation Center (PSC) and Nursing Labs at St. Philip’s College while I earn my degree as a BMET has shown me the importance a
BMET has at a Simulation Center.
The Dr. Frank Bryant Jr. PSC has extended their services to benefit
more than just nursing. Currently the center is utilized by the LVN, CNA,
massage therapy, and BMET programs. Each program has benefitted
tremendously from the simulated hospital environment that is provided
here, as well as from the use of human patient simulators. Working at the
center I have had the opportunity to experience a lot of things outside of
my normal BMET training. During my time here and through my experiences, I have seen where my BMET skills have proved beneficial.
As a human patient simulation technician my responsibilities are fairly
standard to those of a biomedical equipment technician. The work involved in keeping a simulation center functioning usually consist of keeping track of all inventory and equipment, maintaining each lab at its set
standard, keeping up with all new simulation technology, and making
sure that each simulation scenario is properly set up and supplied so it
can be effectively executed by the professors. I have learned that it helps
a great deal to learn a lot more about the lessons being taught so we can
better understand the importance of what we do and how it effects the
training that is being executed.
Advantages of being a BMET in a PSC
As a lab tech we cover quite a bit of area. However, maintaining the
medical equipment is where my training as a BMET has proved to be a
complete bonus to the lab as a whole. When equipment breaks or perhaps something just needs a simple calibration, or even just a good
safety cleaning and service before it goes back out, the lab no longer has
to contract out and equipment never stays down for long. The nursing
staff and faculty also find it very beneficial for instances where there is a
simple user error or perhaps an encounter with an unfamiliar piece of
medical equipment.
(Continued)