Biomedical technicians are often found in a healthcare facility. It is typically a recession-proof job where one can diversify for ease of finding employment. Hospitals, medical laboratories, biomedical industries, technical schools or companies that build medical and laboratory equipment employ biomedical technicians. Furthermore, this is the job for someone who wants to always learn new skills on the job as new equipment replaces old technology.
Function
Biomedical technicians are responsible for repairing hospital and medical equipment. This equipment is often expensive to replace and needs to always be available. Laboratory equipment used by medical technologists and radiology tools used by radiologic technologists need repair and constant maintenance. These tools are crucial to the daily duties of healthcare professionals who must diagnose and treat problems.
Considerations
To become a biomedical technician you need electronics-based training. However, most employers do not hire individuals who only have associate degrees in electronics or related fields; they often hire those who completed a degree specific to biomedical technology. Training ranges from a minimum of 12 months to four years. There are core electronics courses that you must complete to qualify and you should work as an apprentice observing the more experienced technicians. Some sessions of training even delve into specific machines for a period, such as a CAT scan. The trainer will assess whether the trainee is ready to go on his own based on the trainee's performance. A biomedical technician should continue with training even after employment, especially when hospital equipment gets older and newer versions are used. The biomedical technician must keep up to date with the trends in technology to perform the responsibilities well.
Benefits
A biomedical technician's job prospect is good, just like any healthcare-related job. Medical and laboratory tools always require maintenance and must be available at all times, so this position is important in a healthcare facility. The pay is also competitive and often includes health and retirement benefits. Higher pay also comes with passing an ICC (International Code Council) Certification, which may also lead to a promotion.
Potential
There are several levels of seniority based on responsibilities. A biomedical technician can find promotion within the same company or find a part-time job with other healthcare facilities while keeping a full-time job. There are also biomedical technicians who specialize in certain equipment and work as consultants. The pay is either per hour or per contractual agreement for a specified period. Experienced biomedical technicians can demand top dollars, with a starting salary higher than average. Some even end up working as trainers or teachers in colleges or technical schools.
Warning
There are some associated risks in this field. One should be careful when handling the equipment and use all necessary precautions learned through the training program. Furthermore, a biomedical technician should ensure that all parts properly work and have been tested before signing off a job as complete because any mistake may lead to erroneous values and results that could lead to an erroneous diagnosis or treatment.
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