BY K. RICHARD DOUGLAS
There are biomeds today who have been at their craft for decades. Those technicians embody the value of the experienced HTM professional who possess a wealth of knowledge and information.
An example of a biomed with this degree of experience is Robert Fuller, CBET, BMET III, working at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence, South Carolina.
Fuller has more than three decades of HTM experience and is known for devoting his full attention to any equipment he is working on. He has worked for McLeod Health since 1989 and has held the CBET certification since 2012.
A college counselor helped point Fuller to discover the biomed profession.
“It is a long story but basically, I was like a lot of high school graduates that did not know what they wanted to do when they graduated. I started out in business management but did not like it and dropped out of that. I went to a college counselor and took an assessment test to see where my interest might be. My scoring on the test leaned toward some type of field in electronics,” Fuller says.
He says that he started asking the counselor about each type of electronics curriculum and which ones where available at Midlands Technical College.
“They had a biomed program, and I kept going back to that one with more questions. And that is the one I picked. If I had not had that talk with that particular counselor, I don’t know where I may have ended up,” Fuller says.
The college training was followed by OEM training.
“I attended Midlands Technical College and completed the associate degree program. At the time they called it an associate
degree in occupational health with a major in biomedical equipment. I also received an advanced certificate in biomedical equipment and a diploma in electronics. Once I got into the field, I have received a lot of manufacturer training on specific medical devices,” Fuller says.
Fuller started his biomed career working for Chesapeake X-ray as a biomed. He worked on X-ray processors and assisted with the installation machines. He then ran a one-man biomed shop at Byerly Hospital in Hartsville, South Carolina.
“In May 1989, I started working at McLeod Regional Medical Center and have been there ever since. I have been a BMET I, BMET II, BMET III, BMET supervisor and BMET director. Presently, I am a BMET III. Basically, I have found that I am happiest at the BMET III position,” he says.
A Work Attitude from the Start
Putting his extensive experience to good use, Fuller is currently working on an EPIC conversion, while also managing routine tasks.
“I am involved presently with a conversion project from Cerner EMR system to EPIC. We will be connecting our ventilators to the system so they can capture that data to the medical charts. Our department is involved with any medical device connecting to this system – heart monitors, fetal monitors, ventilators, X-ray systems and many others,” Fuller says.
Fuller sits in on several meetings every week to assist with planning.
“The challenge when working on a project this large is learning each person’s part and educating them on your part; getting people to trust you,” Fuller says.
He said another challenge is being able to get new assignments completed and still complete preventaive maintencance tasks and the rest of his regular work load. Time management becomes very important.
When not at work, Fuller practices his welding skills on a combination unit (Arc, TIG, MIG) that he bought.
“I have many hobbies. I do a little amateur photography, woodworking and just repairing things. I like to travel. I always have been interested in the off-road industry. I like to try new things. So, I am teaching myself how to weld,” Fuller says.
He has been married since September of 1989 and has a son and daughter.
After decades honing his skills as an HTM professional, Fuller says that from early in his career a strong focus on the customer and hard work make up the core of his approach.
“I’m just a regular, average person. I decided early on in my career to set a standard in the way I document, deal with my customers and present myself. If I am doing it the right way, then I don’t have anything to worry about. I also learned early in life, working for a hardware store, that good customer service skills will get you a long way in any field. I came from a family that has always worked hard. So, I have always worked hard. I do not like to sit around and do nothing,” he says.
That attitude may explain, at least in part, why he is a professional of the month.
