What Does a Medical Equipment Technician Do?
Medical facilities have all kinds of equipment that run tests, generate images, and sustain life. When this equipment needs to be maintained or repaired, the facility relies on the help of a Medical Equipment Technician. Also known as medical equipment repair technicians, these professionals service biomedical machines, which can include anything from ultrasound devices and CT scanners to pediatric tables and lights. Although they may not be the kind of healthcare worker you typically envision, they do play an important role in patient care. Through their work, doctors have access to life-saving medical machinery that can be used to improve the health and wellness of their patients—and even save lives!
Medical Equipment Technician Job Duties and Description
As a Medical Equipment Technician, you would have busy days that vary depending on where you work and what you’re working on. You might spend the morning installing a piece of equipment and use the afternoon to complete repairs on other machines. Your overall responsibilities are to install, repair, and perform maintenance on medical machines.
Medical Equipment Techs Perform Installations
When a facility is new, getting new equipment, or just updating old medical equipment, you may be called in to install it. You communicate with the manager of the facility or the department chief to find out where the equipment should be installed and how quickly it needs to be done. Once installed, you calibrate the machine and test it to ensure it works properly. You also review the manual and train healthcare staff on how to use it properly.
Medical Equipment Technicians Maintain Machines
All machinery needs to be maintained and medical equipment is no exception. This includes cleaning the equipment, adjusting it, or lubricating parts that are aging. You may also perform routine safety checks to make sure the equipment still runs properly and complies with federal and state regulations.
Medical Equipment Techs Perform Repairs
When a machine breaks down, you’re called to repair it. You first assess it and then diagnose the problem. You might need to adjust hydraulic or electrical parts to fix the problem or change out broken pins or locking shafts. Something as simple as a poor connection might wreak havoc. It’s up to you and your detective skills to figure out what’s wrong and then use your knowledge, skills, and tools to fix it. If the machine is beyond repair, you oversee its replacement.
What Types of Equipment Do Medical Equipment Techs Repair?
You can expect to service all types of equipment found in a medical facility such as:
- Ultrasound, MRI, and X-ray machines
- Hospital beds or electric wheelchairs
- Pediatric exam tables and incubators
- Microscopes, endoscopes, surgical lights, and surgical tables
- Vital sign monitors
- Portable and stationary anesthesia machines
- Fluoroscopy machines
- Ventilators and defibrillators
In some cases, such as with an electric wheelchair, you may need to repair it while it’s in use or when patients are around. In that case, you must take care to be unobtrusive and keep patients from being disturbed.
Where Do Medical Equipment Technicians Work?
You can find employment in a variety of medical facilities, including hospitals, medical centers, and clinics. You could also work for medical equipment sellers or rental services. If you prefer to work with multiple facilities, you could work as a contractor. Rather than being employed by a hospital or medical center, you could be called upon to repair equipment for a variety of medical facilities as needed. Hours of work are typically 9 to 5, but you may need to work during evenings or weekends if a repair is considered urgent.
Demand for Medical Equipment Technicians is expected to be much stronger than average through the decade. And Nevada and Utah are among the top-paying states for the profession.
Does the career of a Medical Equipment Technician sound interesting to you? At Charter Career Academy, you can complete the Medical Equipment Technician training program in as few as six weeks and be prepared to take the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation National Certified Associate in Biomedical Technology certification exam. Get certified and you’re ready for entry-level work in the field. Fill out the form at the bottom of the page to request more information.