Virginia Biomedical Association

VBA NEWS vol.1 no.3 December 1994

Biomed Week Revisited

Where were you during Virginia's first Biomedical Technicians week ? Although a statewide event was not planned this year, many hospital Biomed departments celebrated in their own way. Sentara Leigh, Mary Washington and the Centra Health hospitals purchased T-shirts and held a T-shirt day for their Biomeds. Community Hospital of Roanoke held an open-house of their department. Virginia Beach General had two catered lunches and a cake. There were also more reports of fruit baskets, gift certificates, T-shirts, doughnuts and lunches on the boss.

- - IMPORTANT NOTICE - -

Due to a certain amount of confusion about the VBA membership period, the following policy has been adopted by the board of directors:

All membership applications received during 1994 are for the 1995 membership year, and are charged the full annual membership fee. In addition, these members are also granted membership for the remainder of 1994 at no additional charge. This policy applies to All membership categories.

This policy is only in effect during 1994 since this was a startup year. Starting in 1995 membership fees will be prorated for mid-year applicants.

Biomedical Technology Training

There are currently many ways to enter the Biomedical Engineering

field, however proper training is essential. Each branch of the armed forces have Biomedical training programs for their personnel. Also many community colleges, as well as private institutions offer degrees in Biomedical Technology. ECPI is one such institute.

ECPI Computer Institute now offers an Applied Science Degree in Computer Electronics Technology with a major in Biomedical Equipment Technology at their Virginia Beach and Roanoke Campuses. The program prepares the student for an entry level position in medical repair. Included in the program are a certification seminar and BMET externship.

The program begins with the basic theories of direct and alternating current. Instruction includes the operation and use of diagnostic equipment such as oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, and function generators. Computer applications involves problem solving techniques utilizing general applications software. Hands on experience in the labs involves the operation and troubleshooting of hemodialysis machines, electrosurgical units, defibrillators, and electrocardiograms. Topics include cardiac stimulation/life support equipment, medical ultrasound, operating room equipment, and various other ICU/CCU equipment. Biomedical technicians from local hospitals or businesses guest lecture whenever possible.

Customer relations and professional development are extensively covered. Methods of handling customer complaints as well as using persuasion and communication skills are practiced. Each course is handled as though the student is a technician in a work environment. The goal of the program is to prepare the student for situations that will be encountered in field service work or a hospital environment.

A BMET certification seminar is included to prepare students for the written part of the BMET certification test. With cooperation of local hospitals and employers, a BMET externship is set up for each student. The student works closely with experienced technicians to gain practical knowledge in medical equipment repair. Evaluations are conducted by the employer addressing the student's knowledge, attitude, and job performance.

For information about the Biomedical Equipment Technology curriculum, contact ECPI Computer Institute, Virginia Beach Center, 5555 Greenwich Road, Virginia Beach, Va. 23462, (804) 671-7171, or the Roanoke Center, 1030 Jefferson Street S., Roanoke, Va. 24016, (703) 342-0043.

Stephen L. St.John Student

ECPI Computer Institute

SUCCESS !!!

WHAT: Hewlett Packard Service Support School

WHEN: November 07 thru 11

WHERE: Virginia Beach Resort & Conference Center

WHO: Several Virginia Biomedical Association Members as well

as an out-of-towner from Delaware.

This course covered the Hewlett-Packard Component Monitoring System and Central Monitor 78560; and was taught by one of Hewlett-Packards best instructors, Mark Bradley. Mark is a veteran of teaching, in fact be has been teaching this course for so long that he has written and compiled the entire service course on the Component Monitoring System and the Central Monitor 78560. This course was written for the Biomedical Technician exclusively because Mark was himself a Biomedical Technician before he began his teaching career at Hewlett-Packard.

There wasn't much this guy didn't know about this system or Hewlett-Packard in general. Mark is also a veteran in the area of student motivation and in no time at all be had the whole lot of us students totally engrossed in the intricate workings of the Component Monitoring System. The course followed the Hewlett-Packard outline with plenty of time for theory, hands on operation, removal & replacement, as well as troubleshooting some awesome bugs. By the time this week was over there wasn't one of us Biomeds that wasn't extremely confident in the operation and troubleshooting of both the Component Monitoring System & Central

Monitor 78560.

This course not only helped several of us Biomeds to become proficient with the Hewlett-Packard Monitoring System, but also gave us a chance to interact with each other. it is so often that we don't even get the chance to visit much less the chance to actually work with one another, so this was an added bonus. Any Commentary on this Service School would not be complete without a hearty THANK YOU to all the folks at Virginia Biomedical Association who were responsible for the opportunity to attend this course. I for one will be looking forward to more educational opportunities like this in the future.

Chuck Templeton, BMET

Sentara Leigh Hospital

Fear Not the Laboratory

My co-worker, Mark Freeman, had threatened to break my arm if I didn't buckle under and write an article for his cause. Well, not exactly. He threatened only to twist my arm. On second thought, it was not that either. Actually, it was none of the above. You see folks, it was all my fault. One day while Mark and I were discussing the VBA, I opened my big mouth and mentioned to him that I enjoy writing. One thing led to another and, well, need I say more?

I was born into the biomedical world in 1975. After attaining an Associate degree in Electronics from the local community college,

I was faced with "what to do in the post-school real world." I searched the classifieds and eventually saw an advertisement that read something like this: "Biomedical Technician Needed to Service and Maintain Hematology Equipment in Hospitals." Certainly I knew what a hospital was. And I could sort of figure out what biomedical meant. But what in the heck was hematology? After all, I was just a young kid out of college. I picked up the phone and called. Luckily I was granted an interview and offered a position. Ultimately, I went to work for them, Coulter Electronics.

I was with Coulter, doing field service, for seven years. It sure broke me in properly as far as being exposed to the laboratory. The skills I learned while being with Coulter fitted me with a wealth of knowledge a base for which I built hands-on experience as well as an exceptional rapport with my customers. That knowledge and rapport has followed me even to this day.

After Coulter, I did a stint at the VA Hospital in Hampton that was akin to a stint in the army. It was then that I got a taste of what in-house work was like. After the VA, I went to work for American Scientific Products which was later bought by Baxter Travenol. The name was ultimately changed to Baxter Healthcare. Baxter employed me for eight years in field service until I made the break and went to work for Tidewater Healthcare which owns Virginia Beach General and Portsmouth General Hospitals. For the past year and a half I have been working primarily at Virginia Beach General with occasional assignments at Portsmouth General.

The question perplexed me. What subject could I possibly write about? Of course, the lab. What I know and am most comfortable with is the lab, so that's all the more reason for me to expound on that.

Since I've been at the two hospitals and to a certain extent, even before I've sensed a general feeling from biomedical technicians to shy away from the laboratory. Because that's where I've spent most

of my biomedical life, I suppose that's why I have a difficult time understanding why most of you feel that way. I attended the VBA-sponsored schooling recently on Hewlett-Packard monitors. During a break, I spoke with a classmate about the servicing of lab equipment. He said (and this wasn't the first time I had ever heard it) that he avoided lab equipment because of two reasons. One, the instruments are highly specialized and, two, they harbor "nasty bugs." Well, I'll go along with that, but I'm not convinced that those of you who don't do lab equipment, can't do lab equipment.

At the HP training, I was surprised at how complicated those monitoring systems are. I was impressed with how well everyone picked up on the instruction. It is for that very reason that I feel every biomedical technician out there is capable of servicing laboratory devices. Lab equipment is no more difficult to repair and maintain than many devices you already service. Granted, having the benefit of training is a big plus, but isn't that true with most major equipment? With a good service manual, your instinctive repair abilities and, if needed, telephone assistance from the manufacturer, you should be able to tackle most problems.

Many of you are intimidated by the vast amount of hydraulic and pneumatic tubing often found in laboratory instruments. Don't let it scare you. With a decent hydraulic/pneumatic schematic, a couple pairs of hemostats, and a good logical method of troubleshooting, most anyone can emerge successfully.

As far as the "nasty bugs" go, don't let that stop you from servicing lab equipment and don't fool yourselves into believing that only laboratory instruments are teeming with these creepy crawlers. Items you currently repair have those "nasty bugs" crawling all over them. When I started my present job, the first time I picked up a defective vacuum regulator to repair, I was grossed out by its contents. The same thing happened when I repaired my first telemetry receiver. The nurse said it had gotten "wet." Wet with what! Man, you'd better believe I had gloves on when I worked on those two units . . . and still do when I encounter them today.

The point I'm trying to stress is, don't let any of this stop you from servicing and maintaining lab equipment. It's really not much different from what you work on now and there are benefits attached to it. As you know, having the extra experience under your belt makes you a more marketable biomedical technician and makes you more valuable to your employer. It goes without saying; you can save your organization big bucks by repairing the equipment yourself instead of calling in a company representative. In addition, consider taking certain items off contract. For those extra-tough problems where you have to call in a company rep to bail you out, you'll still come out ahead in the long run.

Think about it. I've been on both sides of the fence and have seen how both sides work. I can tell you it works for us and it can work for you, too. Hey, Mark. Thanks for sparing my arm.

Barry Minsberg

Virginia Beach General Hospital

Service Documentation

There are age old questions regarding service manuals. In particular, how to convince some equipment manufacturers to supply them with their products, and once they do, what should be contained in those manuals. James Anderson of Mary Washington Hospital points out that that NFPA specifies service manual requirements and Virginia has incorporated them into the state building code. Following are the applicable NFPA code sections:

7-6.2.1.8 Manuals for Appliances. Purchase specifications

shall require the vendor to supply suitable manuals for operators

or users upon delivery of the appliance. The manuals shall include

installation and operating instructions, inspection and testing procedures, and maintenance details. [See 9-2.1.8.1(m)]

The requirements here and the recommendations in Appendix A-7-6.2.1.8 can be incorporated into a condition-of-purchase document. (See 7-6.2.1.7) In addition, a vendor can be requested to provide the user with all safety related enhancements for the duration of the life of the device.

9-2.1.8.1 Manuals. The manufacturer of the appliance shall furnish operator's, maintenance and repair manuals with all units. These manuals shall include operating instructions, maintenance details, and testing procedures. The manuals shall include the following where applicable:

(a) Illustrations that show location of controls.
(b) Explanation of the function of each control.
(c) Illustration of proper connection to patient and other equipment.
(d) Step-by-step procedures for the proper use of the appliance. (e) Safety considerations in application and in servicing.
(f) Difficulties that might be encountered, and care to be taken if the appliance is used on a patient simultaneously with other electric appliances.
(g) Schematics, wiring diagrams, mechanical layouts, parts lists and other pertinent data for the appliance as shipped.
(h) Functional description of the circuit.
(i) Electrical supply reauirements (volts, frequency, amperes and watts), heat dissipation, weight, output current, output voltage, and othe pertinent data.
(j) The limits of electrical supply variations - performance specifications of the appliance shall be given for the applicable limits of electrical supply variations.
(k) Technical performance specifications including design levels of leakage current.
(l) Instructions for unpacking (readily available upon opening), inspecting, installing, adjusting, and aligning.
(m) Comprehensive preventive and corrective maintenance and repair procedures.

Where applicable, the information itemized to be supplied in the form af a separate operating manual and a separate maintenance manual, except that the separate maintenance manual shall also include essentially all the information in the operating manual. The committee responsible for this chapter has noted that its requirements would be satisfied if the manufacturer provides at least one complete set of manuals. Additional sets (either complete or operator's or service manuals) are a matter between the purchaser and manufacturer. The complete manual set should be kept in the location where the equipment is maintained. It is desirable that a copy of an operators manual be kept with the appliance.

What this does is to provide legal grounds for a hospital to insist on receiving proper equipment service documentation. Please be sure to keep a copy of the latest NFPA manual in your department and consult it as needed.

Are You Certifiable ?

Certification is becoming increasingly important for anyone who wants to make a career in the Biomedical field. It provides evidence of personal development to a high level of expertise, as well as giving prospective employers a "comfort zone" regarding your qualifications. A professional certification program also lends credibility to our field in general and helps to enhance the professional status of all involved.

Having been a Biomed for many years, I remember a time when many hospitals didn't require much more talent from a Biomed Tech than to be able to turn a screwdriver. Quite often, someone in the maintenance department was given additional duties of repairing BP cuffs, IV pumps and anything else the hospital departments would allow them to work on. Unfortunately, there are a few hospitals that still operate like this.

Certification, while not a panacea, does command higher pay as indicated in the Journal of Clinical Engineering's wage and salary surveys. In addition a trend may be starting where hospitals require their BMETs to be certified. Virgil Smoot of the Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters has provided a copy of their certification policy, which is reprinted below. I would guess that other hospitals will soon follow suit.

For those interested in certification, the SBET offers a self evaluation to help you prepare for the exam, they can be contacted at (800) 332-2264 for more information. Also, I would like to pass along a suggestion made to me by a member of the ICC board, those of us who are certified should have our certification (CBET, CCE, CRES or CLES) printed on our hospital ID badge.

Mark Freeman, CBET

Virgina Beach General Hospital

SUBJECT: ICC (AAMI) Certification

POLICY: It is the policy of CHKD and the CHKD Clinical Engineering

Department that all clinical personnel must be ICC (AAMI) certified. Full certification can be obtained in one or more of the following categories: general, laboratory or radiological.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy is to insure that all clinical personnel meet the minimum competency requirements recognized and accepted by the industry and profession.

PROCEDURE: Clinical Engineering personnel may be employed if proper documentation is presented qualifying the employee as a Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician. Current non-certified employees must obtain certification within twenty-four (24) months from the

date of this policy. New employees must be certification eligible and pass the certification exam at the first regional offering post-employment, not to exceed one year. Certification must then be maintained by fulfilling the minimum educational requirements as outlined by the International Certification Commission. Failure to comply with the terms of this policy will result in termination of employment.

Board Meeting - Sept 1994

Virginia Biomedical Association Report on Board Meeting held September 22, 1994

Meeting was called to order by Mary Frye. Present were Steve Haupt, Mark Freeman, Virgil Smoot, Rylan Paxton, James Anderson, Ben Clark, Rick Davis, Lis Carrol, Mike Carlton and Steve Germaine.

Noting there was no old business to discuss, we moved on to new business. Mary opened with a President's report. These comments were on discussion of a format for the minutes, association's colors, thank you letters for corporate members, stationary, t-shirts and tracking time of time spend on associational activities.

After some discussion of each item, the following is a summary of

the results: The minutes of board meetings will be presented in a standard, consistent format each time. Our colors will be gray and blue. Corporate thank you letters will go out. Stationary is being worked on and as a promo for Biomedical Week, board members will receive 10 t-shirts to sell. We all promised to try and keep up with the amount of time we spend on VBA activities.

Finance:

To date we have received $10,471 with $5663.68 in expenses, leaving $4807.32. Steve noted that committee chairpersons are responsible for money spent by their committee. Please be sure money is available before you commit. A Quicken program will be purchased to keep track of associational finances.

Rules & Bylaws:

Rylan noted several questions had come up about membership: when could bylaw changes be made and establishing an honorary membership.

Membership:

James reported that there were currently 89 individuals, 10 students and 8 corporate members. He discussed a new application form, a need to focus on membership in northern Virginia, and a need for membership cards.

Publications:

Mark asked for input regarding the newsletter, corrections or otherwise. The printing of brochures for classes and advertising materials was discussed. Do we send newsletters at first class or bulk rate? We will send at bulk rate unless the newsletter carries dated material.

Education:

Ben reported that for most classes, a charge of $25 for members and $50 for non-members will be assessed unless otherwise noted.

An agenda for 1995 is being worked up. A ski meeting for February is in the works to be held with educational classes. The site looks like Wintergreen, more to follow. Biomedical Technicians week is being promoted on a local level. Please promote Biomed week and let Mark know how things went.

There were more things discussed than I could get on paper, so I'll try to do a better job for the next issue. This is Mike Carlton, your board meeting reporter saying, don't turn that screw too tight, you'll be sorry.

Note: It was subsequently decided to hold the Ski meeting at Bryce Resort.