Hospitals are amazing and satisfying places to work. Although there are many career choices for people like us who have technical skills, I am convinced that none is more rewarding than working in hospitals in our chosen field. We have the opportunity to work with a broad range of technologies like lasers, MRI, wireless connectivity, robotics and almost any device that helps improve patient care, diagnosis, or therapy. We get to work with some of the brightest and most dedicated physicians and nurses and although we only play a small role in the direct delivery of healthcare, it is gratifying to know that we are part of a team that helps to improve the lives of others.
When I listen to members of our profession complain about the physicians and nurses in their hospitals, I wonder how they can be so negative. They are the backbone of healthcare. Developing strong working relationships with them can lead to some of the most rewarding experiences a biomedical technician or engineer can have. We stand at the intersection of technology and the healthcare delivery process and have a lot to offer them. There is no one else with the unique combination of technical and application knowledge as the members of our profession. We know what makes medical devices reliable and easy to use and we understand their capabilities and limitations. Instead of using our unique skills and knowledge to develop better working relations with physicians and nurses, too many departments have chosen to criticize them and take the view that they are the “enemy”. This attitude inevitably results in alienation from those people in the hospital who need your services most.
One way to avoid developing this attitude is to learn more about physicians and nurses and the issues they face daily. You can start by reaching out to the nursing education department and asking permission for you and your staff to attend some of their classes. Do not limit yourself to attending device related classes, but learn about new medications and techniques for treating certain types of patients. Beyond listening to the instructors, listen to any questions that the nurses in attendance may have. Also, most nursing departments offer lengthy orientation programs for incoming nurses. These programs cover all types of classes ranging from policies and procedures to how to use various medical devices. By attending these classes, you will learn more about the issues faced by nurses in performing their daily tasks.
By reaching out and learning more about the most important members of the care giving team, you can learn much more about them, their needs and device applications. That increased knowledge will make you a much more valuable member of the healthcare team.
