Biomed 101: I Wish I Knew More About the Path to HTM

By Chace Torres

The number one thing I wish I could wave a wand and change about the healthcare technology management (HTM) field is awareness. I want the HTM career path to be a tangible, sought-after profession held in the same regard as others in the medical industry. 

Every kid growing up learns about what a nurse or doctor is, but not a biomed. Yes, doctors are incredibly vital to our society. However, a biomed is a doctor in their own right. Biomeds diagnose and fix issues both internally and externally on our patients; medical devices. Like treating illnesses and injuries, a biomed has to deal with complex situations that require education, insight and attention to detail on par with other medical professionals. 

Why does it still hold true today that the only way people hear about the HTM field is primarily through word of mouth? It’s a complex question with several answers adding up to a lump sum of outreach. Out of approximately 10,000 biomeds in the United States, we are within eyesight of many of our senior leaders retiring. We need to build recognition of what biomeds are and how rewarding the job is as soon as possible. AAMI has taken strides to expand outreach and avenues to bring in more people, but it is not an end-all solution. We have STEM organizations, technical programs, media, and even our own family members who don’t know about the HTM profession. Networking with people you already have relationships with can make a resounding difference. If we don’t speak up, no one will hear us.

I do not expect every biomed to start a podcast or YouTube channel, or dive into social media. They are fantastic avenues to reach out to others across the world. Yet, like all movements, it starts with a grassroots approach. If we can do that, we stand a far better chance of closing the gap on the impending labor crisis we all know is coming. 

The field continues to improve and has built upon the efforts of our predecessors. I think it falls on current biomeds, including myself, to invest in the new generation coming into the field. Giving a slight nudge and letting younger techs know they are capable of more and can achieve greater heights will ultimately enrich our future. As a biomed, we have to recognize we don’t know everything and that is OK. Humility in this field yields far more than being an expert in all. Understanding you have the biomed community to lean on for support is vital. Whether it is through asking fellow techs for help, reading service literature, calling tech support or seeking education; the tools are there for our success. 

If you ever question the importance of what we do or need to reaffirm your passion walk into the ICU and see a patient hooked up to multiple devices. See the family that wants them to make it through that struggle and know that everything you do in PM’ing, calibrating and repairing devices day in and day out is making a difference. The passion we have for elevating care and ensuring patient safety is what we need to expand on. When people hear the sincerity of that passion, they are far more likely to become invested in passing it on. 

For more information on this topic, check out the TechNation Podcast at tinyurl.com/3w8rkh8w. 

– Chace Torres, CHTM, is a lead techician at SPBS and host of the Bearded Biomed podcast.