This month, TechNation contacted several healthcare technology management (HTM) professionals and asked them to share their thoughts and insights regarding training and education. Participants in the roundtable article are College of Biomedical Equipment Technology’s Dr. Richard “Monty” Gonzales; Innovatus Imaging Director of Commercial Operations and Business Analytics Ted Lucidi, CBET; Maull Biomedical Training LLC Owner Stephen Maull; RSTI Training Registrar Anna Morrison; and Elite Biomedical Solutions CBET/BMET II Jake Walters.
Q: What are the most important things to look for when seeking training?
Gonzales: When seeking education and training, it is important to consider several key factors. First, look for programs that offer practical industry-specific education and training consistent with current and emerging technologies in the health care sector. Second, ensure that the program is accredited by a recognized organization or institution. Third, consider the quality and expertise of the faculty, as well as the availability of industry connections and networking opportunities. Finally, consider the program’s cost and duration, as well as its potential for career advancement and job placement. By considering these factors, you can ensure that you receive the best education and training in the healthcare technology management industry.
Lucidi: The questions that need to be answered are 1) “What does the training, on a specific device, enable the technician to do? 2) Are there any limitations? and 3) Are there any additional costs required after the training?” You don’t want to find out, post-purchase, and more so post-training, that there is a periodic subscription fee to enable access to diagnostics or technical documentation. HTM directors need to be integral to the capital purchasing process. HTM can serve as a control to prevent those in supply chain from focusing on price versus overall cost. Ideally, the cost of technical training, access to diagnostic tools and technical documentation would be integrated into the final cost of new capital equipment. After all, the sales price of the device itself might be relatively small compared to that of the overall support costs throughout the device’s life cycle.
Maull: Will this training satisfy our needs. Some training is big picture overall view of a topic (like introductory training) while some training is very detailed when it comes to maintenance or repair procedures. Make sure you know exactly what knowledge this training will provide.
Morrison: There are three vital things to look for when seeking training:
- Depth of instruction
- Utilization of hands-on learning methods
- Reputation of training provider
Training providers should utilize proven techniques in adult learning concepts. RSTI adheres to the VARK Adult Learning Methodology which employs Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing and Kinesiology learning techniques. In other words, adults learn by seeing, hearing, reading/writing and hands-on experience. RSTI places utmost importance on lab exercises to reinforce the concepts learned in the classroom.
Walters: Speaking from personal experience, one of the most important things to seek out when training is needed is a program that has both a knowledgeable instructor and quality course material. It can be difficult to find training with both, but it is important to leave training with the confidence that you can go out into the field and put your new knowledge to use.
Q: How often should biomeds update their training on specific types of medical equipment?
Gonzales: Technicians should update their training on specific types of medical devices regularly. The frequency of updates may vary depending on the complexity and criticality of the devices, changes in regulations, cybersecurity concerns or other factors. For high-risk devices, more frequent updates may be necessary to ensure patient safety and compliance with regulations. Continuing education and training is particularly important when we consider the impact of rapidly advancing technologies, software and cybersecurity concerns, and other evolving factors.
Lucidi: Never stop learning! Tech advancements are occurring at a much more rapid pace than they did just 5 to 10 years ago. Although the fundamental function of a device may not change, the manners in which technology is applied to a device does. Volunteer for every training opportunity and continually invest in yourself. Remaining status quo is the most effective means of obsoleting yourself.
Maull: In most cases never! Be very leary of any company that wants to charge you to “update” your training or tries to push regular “refresher” courses on you every year. Did they or did they not teach you everything you needed when you first attended. I assume if you attended the training, you are using the knowledge they gave you, so why do you need to attend again? What, because you slightly altered one of the procedures you taught me last year you want to charge me again? Sorry, but that should be free info to attendees of prior training sessions. If they don’t give you everything you need during the initial training session (manuals, handouts, software, etc) then I would think twice before attending that training.
Morrison: Training should be valid for the life of the equipment, but as equipment evolves and new revisions are released, additional updated training may be required.
Walters: Things can change very rapidly in the health care industry, and it is important to stay up to date on as much as you can. How often a technician should update their training can vary based on their role at their facility, but I would say a good rule of thumb would be to seek out additional training at least on a yearly basis. Subscribing to various newsletters and literature such as TechNation is a great way to stay informed.
Q: How important are certifications?
Gonzales: Certifications such as those offered by AAMI, COMP TIA, HIMSS and others are a crucial component of career development. Not only do they verify that individuals possess the necessary knowledge and skills to perform their jobs effectively, ensuring that medical equipment is appropriately maintained and functioning correctly, but they also serve as a quality indicator for the organizations they serve. One other thing to consider is that certifications demonstrate a commitment to ongoing education and professional development. Employers often prefer to hire certified professionals as it provides assurance that they have met industry standards and are competent in their roles. At the College of Biomedical Equipment Technology, we work very closely with our industry partners, we have found that certification can lead to career advancement opportunities and higher salaries. Overall, certifications can play a vital role in ensuring patient safety and improving the quality of healthcare technology management services.
Lucidi: Until more employers require certification as a condition of employment, the importance of certification will be merely personal. In the industry’s current state, at best, possessing certification may provide a candidate an advantage over one who is not certified. Personally, I view certification as a commitment to oneself and to the HTM industry. To that end, I value certifications. When considering choosing between two individuals with similar experience, interpersonal skills and personal recommendations, the certified individual would be my choice.
Maull: That really depends on the eye of the beholder. Some hospitals/companies value certifications much more than others. There are plenty of very fine BMETs who don’t have any certifications; however, most upwardly aspirational BMETs know if they want a raise or a promotion, they will most likely have to show some growth in their career field, and that is most easily done by receiving certifications.
Morrison: Certifications and certificates of completion are becoming more required by the health care provider. They bring validity to the engineers’ qualifications to work on specific systems. RSTI supports industry certifications by working with organizations like AAMI/ACI and ASRT to offer CEUs on relevant courses and by providing a preparatory class for the CRES exam.
Walters: I believe obtaining a certification such as a CBET is both important for your career and personal growth. While you are able to be employed and be successful in your career without a certification, it does help you stand out from other technicians who may not have one. Earning continuing education units to maintain your license can also be helpful for a BMET’s growth.
Q: How does HTM training provide cost savings to health care facilities?
Gonzales: Healthcare technology managers are the unsung heroes in health care facilities. HTM professionals are involved in everything throughout the medical device life cycle, ensuring equipment is used efficiently, effectively and safely. HTMs are responsible for implementing preventive maintenance programs, which reduce the likelihood of equipment failure and the need for costly repairs. They also ensure that equipment is used optimally – reducing downtime and maximizing the lifespan of equipment. One additional consideration for health care organizations seeking to increase cost savings is the role that HTM professionals play in evaluating the cost-effectiveness of equipment purchases. I have had countless conversations with HTM professionals discussing their involvement in the capital committee discussions in health care organizations – we probably do not discuss this factor often enough.
Lucidi: Could you imagine if the OEM had to be called for, not just every device failure, but for every user problem and every user concern? The entire HTM industry exists to combat the ever-increasing cost associated with and the lack of availability and response time that would exist if OEMs were the sole option for support. To this end, the value that HTM professionals provide to health care facilities is virtually priceless. More so, the investment in continued HTM training provides increased cost savings through reduced reliance on OEM service. Investing in employee training also informs team members that they are valued. In turn, this leads to greater job satisfaction, quicker advancement and, ultimately, lower employee turnover.
Maull: You can remove equipment from costly service contracts; or maybe just downgrade the contract to a first-look contract. The ability to service equipment in-house vs. waiting for the contractor to show up also can dramatically decrease downtime, which also has obvious financial benefits.
Morrison: A single, properly trained engineer can significantly reduce or effectively eliminate costly OEM contracts on multiple pieces of the same equipment within the health care provider’s network.
Walters: A trained technician can lead to cost savings in a number of ways. They can save money by performing repairs in-house, rather than outsourcing the repair at a higher cost and turn-around time. A BMET that is better trained can also move through repairs/tasks more quickly since they are familiar with what they are working on. Cross-training coworkers can improve cost savings even further.
Q: What types of education can biomeds obtain at conferences?
Gonzales: MD Expo, the AAMI eXchange, AORN and other health care conferences play an important role in the professionalization of the HTM industry. Access to valuable technical training on specific medical equipment, updates on the latest technologies and trends in the industry, and information on regulatory and compliance issues, are just a few of the benefits. Conferences also offer opportunities for professional development, such as leadership training and professional skills workshops. One of the most important aspects, however, is the ability to network with peers and mentors in the industry.
Lucidi: In my opinion, the content provided through training sessions, at conferences such as MD Expo, exceeds that which is provided by OEMs. OEM training seems to focus on content and tools that the design engineers want customers to use. Education provided by independent service organizations often focuses on actually servicing the device. Content typically includes tips and tools to address common failures found in the field and troubleshooting by not relying on diagnostics.
Morrison: Conferences like MD Expo, ICE and AAMI eXchange offer valuable educational tracks designed to introduce attendees to various topics related to HTM, biomed and diagnostic imaging. While this educational programming provides solid fundamental information or a good basis of understanding, attendees should not expect these sessions to be a replacement for in-depth, comprehensive, hands-on training. They should explore additional training opportunities that deliver the level of instruction needed to be a successful service engineer or manager.
Walters: Conferences offer a wide variety of training topics and have opportunities for most everyone regardless of your role in the health care industry. Whether you need technical training, managerial training, network systems training or even want to discuss what the future of the health care industry looks like, there is something for everyone at these types of conferences.
Q: What else do you think TechNation readers need to know about training opportunities?
Gonzales: In answering this question I consider the advice I gave my son. First, ask yourself, what is the return on investment? Are you pursuing an education and training aligned with your career path or are you pursuing education for the sake of obtaining a degree. Secondly, focus on quality. In education, like health care, accreditation implies higher standards and commitment to quality outcomes. Accreditation ensures that education and training programs meet industry standards and provide high-quality instruction. This ensures that professionals have the necessary knowledge and skills to perform their job duties effectively and safely. This leads me to my last point, technicians should understand the outcomes and expected professional advancement opportunities related to their education and training.
Lucidi: Seek out partners that provide free training opportunities, whether at conferences, in-person at your facility, or via webinars (live or recorded). Recorded webinars are a great option, but viewers do not have the option of interacting with the educator or asking questions. The Innovatus team has in-the-can content but is also able to design and deliver custom training sessions relative to ultrasound technology. Whether in-person or virtual, sessions are always no-charge.
Morrison: The landscape of training has changed and there are many more online options available. RSTI has incorporated some eLearning classes in response to this trend. While this can be a valuable solution for some instructional theory, there is no substitute for hands-on, practical learning. RSTI would implore prospective students to ask themselves if they are just looking to check a box to meet a requirement or if they really want the comprehensive training that will give them the confidence and competence to effectively service imaging equipment throughout their career.
Walters: There are countless opportunities out there if one feels like they should need additional training, all you have to do is look. It can be something as simple as an informative article that takes minutes to read, attending a virtual seminar or all the way up to traveling for a multiple-day technical training course. Always have your eyes and ears open, and keep in mind that there is always something new to learn out in the health care space.
