By K. Richard Douglas
There is very little about HTM that is static. The profession is constantly in flux. The field adapts to ever-changing technology, state and federal regulations and new responsibilities.
There is a realignment of roles, and the necessity of expanding skill sets and specializations. The Internet has created the ability to do more remotely and to learn from more sources. The Internet and networks also have meant more inter-connected medical devices and potentially more access to patient information.
The role of the HTM professional has morphed considerably to include dental equipment support, IT networking and cybersecurity. These areas, along with other responsibilities, have expanded the role of the biomed, requiring additional training, education, tools and continuing education.
This expanded role has put the onus on the HTM department to adapt through hybrid roles, specialized training, additional budgetary considerations and career paths.
“Clinical engineering has evolved to taking over normally facilities roles like sterilizers, generators, nurse call, hospital beds and RTLS management. Over the last 10 years, we’ve also heavily aligned under IT/IS and we’ve often assumed project management, computer-on-wheels (mobile workstations), hospital UPS systems, PACS administration, HL7 data nodes (capsules) and medical device networking,” says Justin Barbour, the host of Better Biomed YouTube Channel and Director of Business Development for BC Group.
These obligations along with a host of others require a biomed to reach beyond traditional repairs on stand-alone devices.
“In order to succeed in these new areas, HTM professionals need to have not only the traditional engineering skills, but also a solid foundation of technical skills in the cybersecurity realm, as well as strong communication skills,” says Nadia ElKaissi, CHTM, biomedical engineer in the HTM Networking & Cyber Division of the VHA Office of Healthcare Technology Management (19HTM).
She says that on the technical side, this includes understanding risk management, vulnerability management, and how to secure networked medical devices. Basic networking knowledge, such as IP addressing, segmentation, and how devices communicate on the network, is also important. These skills are essential as more medical devices are becoming connected.
“HTM professionals should also have familiarity with systems integration (such as DICOM and HL7), along with an understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements to help ensure devices are both functional and aligned with current standards,” ElKaissi says.
She adds that HTM professionals need to develop softer skills to communicate effectively across teams, especially when working with IT, clinical staff and leadership.
“Being able to translate technical requirements and risks into a way that clinical or leadership can understand is essential for long-term success,” ElKaissi says.
INTER-CONNECTED AND INTEGRAL
The necessity to have medical devices inter-connected and the merging roles between biomed and IT have both demanded more skills of the HTM department as well as provided new specialist roles and training opportunities.
“For biomedical and imaging techs, expanding into IT networking and cybersecurity starts with understanding how medical devices actually live on the hospital network – IP addresses, VLANs, DICOM, firewall rules and patching workflows. Certifications like A+, Network+ and Security+ help bridge the gap between traditional equipment support and modern connectivity needs. Just as important is learning each vendor’s specific setup, especially for imaging systems that require secure integrations with PACS and EMR systems,” says James Swandol, MBA, CBET, CHTM, manager II, Healthcare Technology Management at Baylor University Medical Center/The Heart Hospital in Dallas, Texas.
He says that he believes that a modern biomed must be equally comfortable with a multimeter and a network switch interface.
“Expanding into networking and cybersecurity gives technicians a clear path to more specialized and higher-impact roles. Biomeds who understand connectivity and security quickly become go-to resources for device integrations, secure configurations, and troubleshooting issues that affect clinical workflows. These skills open doors to positions like clinical engineering, connected medical device integration and other IT roles,” Swandol says.
Barbour says that IT department alignment has allowed clinical engineering access to a greater budget and a closer working relationship with information professionals.
“To succeed, professionals need a robust and diverse skill set. Fundamentally, networking and operating system administrative proficiencies are essential. Specialized skills in PowerShell scripting – or quality-checking AI outputs – add significant value, enabling efficient system management and automation. Additionally, a solid understanding of healthcare-specific standards such as HL7 and DICOM is crucial for ensuring compatibility and security of data exchange,” says Andrew Aiken, CISSP, CSIS, CySA+, information systems BESS in the HTM Networking & Cyber Division of the VHA Office of Healthcare Technology Management (19HTM).
He says that expertise in modern firewall technologies is also vital to protect against cyber threats and ensure the integrity of biomedical systems.
“Continuous education and staying abreast of evolving cybersecurity trends are key to maintaining and enhancing these skills; the steel wall of today can easily be tomorrow’s screen door,” Aiken says.
ElKaissi says that there is a real demand for people who understand both how devices work in a clinical setting and what cybersecurity risks look like.
“As healthcare cybersecurity becomes a national priority, HTM professionals have more opportunities to contribute beyond their organizations. Including collaborating with groups such as FDA, NIST and other regulatory or standard bodies, and helping shape guidance based on real-world experience,” she says.
Barbour says that most biomed education programs have heavily integrated computer networking into their curriculum.
“I strongly suggest biomeds pursue A+ certification as a core certification. Medical networking specialists are quickly becoming the most in demand branch of clinical engineering as hospitals across the country are striving to keep safe and secure medical networks equipped with the latest medical technology,” he says.
DENTAL EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING
Dental equipment servicing may have come full circle as that equipment becomes more integrated into the purview of the generalist biomed and technology advances evolve within that inventory. This requires more specialist training.
“First and foremost, dental care is healthcare. From AAMI’s perspective, dental equipment servicing has always been part of HTM. Historically, however, dental servicing had become somewhat siloed from traditional healthcare technology management, often operating separately from hospital-based HTM teams,” says Danielle McGeary, CHTM, PMP, vice president of HTM at AAMI.
She says that this is because standalone dental offices are not regulated the same way health delivery organizations are regulated. What we’re seeing now is a shift toward bringing those areas back together as healthcare delivery becomes more integrated and technology driven.
“At AAMI, we’ve made a deliberate effort to elevate this at our eXchange event. Our Dental Pavilion brings together dental equipment service professionals from across the country, creating a unique space for collaboration, knowledge sharing and community building. In addition, we’ve developed a dedicated dental technical training track that offers hands-on, product-specific education to meeting the needs of professionals who are servicing increasingly complex dental technologies,” McGeary says.
She says that the organization also sees a strong alignment with AAMI’s broader work in standards, particularly around water quality and sterility assurance – both of which are critically important in dental environments.
“These are areas where HTM professionals can bring significant value, ensuring patient safety and compliance as dental services become more integrated into larger healthcare systems,” McGeary adds.
She says that this presents a real opportunity for HTM professionals.
“While dental technology requires some specialized knowledge, it builds on the same core competencies – equipment maintenance, troubleshooting, safety and regulatory awareness. As health systems expand into dental care, BMETs are increasingly being asked to support this equipment, making education and cross-training essential. AAMI now can support these BMETs and they can receive education at eXchange,” McGeary says.
She points out that more broadly, this trend reflects the continued evolution of HTM.
“Rather than viewing these as entirely separate domains, we see them as natural extensions of the HTM skill set – similarly to radiology. Ultimately, our goal is to help unify these areas – bringing together professionals who have historically operated separately and supporting them with the education, standards and resources needed to succeed in a more connected healthcare environment,” McGeary says.
HOW ARE HTM DEPARTMENTS ADAPTING
As the old proverb says: “Necessity is the mother of invention.” As more peripheral duties become the mainstay for the HTM department, through training, blended job roles and sheer will, those departments are adapting.
“HTM departments are adapting to the growing demands of modern healthcare environments through continuous training, ingenuity, and effective communication. Understanding the host and network landscape enables HTM professionals to work efficiently even without enterprise tools, addressing the unique limitations of medical and specialized systems,” Aiken says.
He says that additionally, they serve as a critical buffer to leadership, clarifying the nuances between medical and enterprise system vulnerabilities. There is certainly a burgeoning marketplace for IoMT solutions tailored to various budgets, but the fundamentals remain the same.
“Alignment with IS/IT departments has proven to make a large impact on hospital readiness. As clinical engineering continues to be challenged with increased responsibility, having a close relationship with IT/IS ensures a larger budget along with inter-department synergy to solve problems together. Cross-training also maximizes technical talent,” Barbour says.
ElKaissi says that HTM departments are starting to shift from just managing equipment to taking a more integrated, risk-based approach.
“A big part of that is the focus on cybersecurity and connected medical devices. Teams are putting more effort into understanding what’s actually on their networks, managing vulnerabilities and working more closely with IT and cybersecurity to make sure medical devices are properly secured,” she says.
Swandol concurs and says that HTM departments are strengthening their collaboration with IT and cybersecurity teams by establishing shared workflows for system integration, device configuration and secure connectivity.
“We’re also seeing the creation of specialized positions dedicated to networked equipment support and medical device security. These developments allow HTM teams to manage connected devices more effectively, improve system reliability, reduce vulnerabilities, and provide stronger support for clinicians,” he says.
ElKaissi adds that there has been a move toward more consistency in how things are done. HTM departments are building out more standardized processes around risk assessments, incident response and procurement.
“There is a stronger emphasis on considering security and long-term support of the medical equipment, rather than focusing solely on procurement. In addition to this, teams are investing in their HTM staff. This includes upskilling in areas like cybersecurity, networking, and system integration, and really expanding what the role of an HTM professional could be,” she adds.
OPPORTUNITIES CREATED BY EXPANSION
What opportunities do these areas of expansion present to an HTM professional as far as career growth and organizational impact? The evolving role of the HTM department is further enriched through the value that additional training and expertise brings to staff.
“Technically inclined biomeds usually aim for management roles to progress in their industry but medical networking specialists can easily exceed the pay of biomed managers while continuing to be challenged with day-to-day operations. By retaining talent and allowing them to grow within a hospital, we establish continuity for the technical staff and rapport with clinical staff,” Barbour says.
Aiken says opportunities for career growth and organizational impact are plentiful in the areas of cybersecurity and networking.
“Over my 20-plus years as a military-trained biomedical technician, I’ve experienced a significant evolution in the field. Initially, I pursued entry-level IT certifications in 2000 and 2001 to bridge the ‘gray area’ between where traditional IT responsibilities ended and HTM began. This gap expanded gradually at first and then surged dramatically as more systems became networked, leading to the ubiquitous environment we see today,” he says.
Aiken says that this rapid development has created critical opportunities for HTM professionals via the boots-on-the-ground tasks of system patching and implementation as well as in addressing cybersecurity vulnerabilities through patching, segmentation and supporting enterprise architectures.
“These roles enable HTM professionals to enhance their skill sets, contribute significantly to organizational security and efficiency, and ensure the robustness of healthcare technology systems,” he says.
ElKaissi says that from a career standpoint, this opens a lot of doors for HTM professionals.
“You aren’t limited to just the traditional biomedical roles anymore. Instead, you can move into areas like cybersecurity, enterprise risk, system integration and even leadership roles that influence hospital-wide or national strategy,” she says.
While the field expands, an expansion of knowledge and training, or the decision to specialize in an evolving component of HTM, will future proof a biomed’s career growth and add to the value a department brings to its organization.
