Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) professionals are in a position to recognize and understand how healthcare technology is in constant change. Additionally, most health care employers know the importance of hiring or sustaining workers who are broadening their knowledge of the industry in order to stay relevant in their technical skills. Yet, it is very surprising to me to find many employees or candidates who are bewildered when they are laid off, not promoted, or not hired due to their lack of relevant or current technical skills.
We understand how important it is for job seekers to have the appropriate education, training, and skills to get ahead in today’s high-tech industry. Employers are looking for employees who are eager and enthusiastic about learning and who take the initiative to achieve competency in a skill that is in demand.
The surest way to be successful, productive, and satisfied is to place a priority on investing in your personal and professional growth. Your willingness and ability to invest in yourself may be the most profitable investment you ever make and will increase your value to your current and future employers.
To be successful in your career, it is just as critical if not more so, to invest in your future and your career by keeping abreast of the changing technology in health care. It is especially important for seasoned workers to be competitive and ensure they stay up to date on the technological advances in medical devices. Complacency and doing things the way they have always been done can lead to being overlooked for promotion or considered for a new position.
Invest in yourself with continuing education and certifications. Don’t rely on your organization or your manager to schedule training for new equipment or new technology. You must not hesitate to take the initiative and learn on your own time and at your own expense, if necessary. Specialty training along with your experience will build your competence and your reputation.
Although improving your skills doesn’t always mean investing in higher education, it is an option, and perhaps a necessary one depending upon your career goals. There are many avenues to invest in your knowledge and advance your skills. If your employer does not offer additional training, look to professional organizations, community colleges, and online technical training sessions to obtain higher education and certification. Advancing your education, obtaining advanced degrees, and achieving relevant certifications are all valuable investments.
Keep abreast of technology by reading trade journals, magazines, and manufacturers’ literature. Take a weekend or evening training class at a local community college or technical school. Participate in webinars on new equipment or read about new technology on manufacturers’ web pages and other technological sites, enroll in workshops, and attend conferences to expand your knowledge.
Your position will bring you many challenges, will test your skills and, in some cases, will directly impact the care of the patients that you and your department serve. You provide a high level of technical expertise in the maintenance of clinical equipment and, in many cases, you will be the only avenue of support the clinical staff has to complete direct care to the patients they serve. As BMETs, imaging service technicians, and managers, you must understand the equipment application as well as the interaction the equipment has with the patient. Due to the diversity of the equipment, specialization is sometimes required, which brings additional training requirements and responsibilities.
If you are not sure what training you need or how to get to the next step in your career, find a mentor or someone in a higher position in your career field who can provide some guidance or direction for your career path. Learning a new skill or enhancing your current technical knowledge is an investment in yourself that will keep you at the cutting edge of your field.
As the BMET/HTM professional role continues to evolve, the educational and technical training requirements have expanded as well. Many health care systems are requiring a minimum of an associate or bachelor’s degree in biomedical technology, military-trained BMET program, or appropriate training at an accredited technical college. Many BMETs pursue professional certification, satisfying certain education requirements and passing an examination to become a Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET), a Certified Radiology Equipment Specialists (CRES), or a Certified Laboratory Equipment Specialists (CLES). In many cases, carrying the title of “CBET” is highly encouraged, and is respected within the technical community.
As the field continues to work closer and closer with IT departments the demand for networking and A+ certification will continue to rise. Many organizations have taken the initiative by gearing training more toward the IT side of the house and for good reason. Anyone remember Y2K and the anxiety that caused? Companies will always be looking for BMETs that can bridge the gap between the departments. This trend is not new but will continue to rise as the ever-changing technology wheel keeps turning.
You should approach your job and daily responsibilities with enthusiasm, dedication, initiative and commitment. Be prepared and diligent to do whatever it takes to be relevant and to get the job done.
Employees with strong technical skills and equally strong communication skills will rise above the pack, especially when they demonstrate that they are constant learners, capable of growth and improvement every day. Along with excellent technical skills, experience, and education, you must continue to remain competent in your field, and that requires continually learning and relearning.
To attain success in this career field, you must be considered a valuable employee. You are your best asset. You are trained in the field and you have a solid, professional background to support your career path. You have a lot to offer your employer by virtue of your education and experience. You can be a tremendous success if you are willing to work at it.
Stay relevant in Healthcare Technology Management by continuing your professional development. Invest in your future and broaden your career by continually expanding your knowledge and skills!
