By K. Richard Douglas
While the COVID-19 pandemic posed many challenges for biomeds, including long hours and special projects, it also led at least one individual to the profession.
“Most of my working life I’ve been self-employed. During COVID, my businesses did well, but the ups and downs experienced during economic fluctuations caused me to contemplate a change. I decided to look into healthcare, as it is a constant; something we all need throughout our lives,” says Joshua Abner, CBET, BMET III in the Clinical Technology Services Department at Cape Fear Valley Health in Elizabethtown, North Carolina. “I have an associate degree in electronics engineering technology and have always enjoyed troubleshooting and repairing things. Almost by chance, it seems, one day the thought popped into my head: there is a lot of equipment used every day in healthcare to treat and care for patients; who maintains it? I began searching and quickly learned of a whole world that I’d never knew existed. I’ve been hooked ever since.”
Despite holding an electronics degree, Abner says he benefited greatly thanks to several experienced colleagues who ramped up his knowledge in the early days.
“I did not have a formal training program. What I did have was knowledgeable technicians and an encyclopedia of a manager around me. They took time with me, entertained my endless questions and gave me the latitude to learn. I was exposed to various pieces of equipment, and as my knowledge grew, I was allowed to jump in on more complex devices. My brain hurt for months,” he says.
His intense early training paid dividends. After starting out as a BMET I, Abner was promoted to BMET II. He currently serves as a BMET III and site lead for a critical access hospital. In addition, Abner manages various clinics across two counties. His areas of specialization include anesthesia and the OR.
HTM IS ULTIMATELY ABOUT PEOPLE
Juggling three balls while chewing gum has served many a biomed. The ability to multitask and keep track of various obligations simultaneously is a skill that benefits every HTM professional.
“One of the main challenges I have encountered is supporting multiple locations and clinics simultaneously. This requires close coordination with different managers, prioritizing competing needs and efficiently scheduling work orders to minimize downtime and provide consistent service quality across sites,” Abner says.
In addition to more routine work, Abner has been involved in special projects.
“I have been involved in redistributing clinic workloads to shorten response times and improve the overall quality of service. Additionally, I’ve helped develop and implement an in-house training program for (BMETs), with the goals to strengthen technical skills, improve standardization and support long-term operational efficiency,” he says.
He keeps his focus on the patients who rely on the medical equipment he maintains and says that “everything we do in healthcare technology is ultimately about people.”
“We don’t agonize over repairing equipment correctly for the sake of the machine itself, but for the person who will one day depend on that device. Every preventive maintenance task is done with care and precision so that the equipment is in the best possible condition to support someone’s life,” Abner adds.
He says that another important aspect of the job for him is supporting his teammates.
“A happy team is a well-functioning team and a well-functioning team can accomplish almost anything. When we take care of each other and hold ourselves to high standards, we create an environment where both patients and professionals can thrive,” Abner says.
Patients at Cape Fear Valley Health in North Carolina can rest assured that there is an experienced biomed, focused on their care, working on the medical equipment they depend on. After all, that is what HTM is all about.
BIOMETRICS
Favorite book:
The Bible
Favorite movie:
“Forrest Gump”
Favorite food:
Pizza
Hidden talent:
I can play the violin.
Favorite part of being a biomed?
My favorite part of being a biomed is that every day presents a new puzzle to solve. No two issues are exactly the same, and each challenge pushes me to think critically, adapt and keep learning. That constant problem-solving is both motivating and rewarding. I also value the opportunity to support every corner of the hospital. As biomeds, we interact with nearly every department, gaining a unique understanding of how the entire health system works together to support patient care. Our work helps clinicians do their jobs safely and effectively, positively impacting patients across the hospital system which makes this role especially meaningful.
Why do you read TechNation?
I read TechNation because I enjoy keeping up with what is happening in HTM. Additionally, there are so many well-qualified and experienced techs, and I enjoy reading about and learning from them.
