Q: I have a request from a director on record storage of service reports. How long should the service records be kept? The device in question has been out of service for 7 years and has been removed from the building.
A: If the device in question is used in patient care we treat it like patient record. From a litigation standpoint a claim could be preferred against the health care organization, that may include the possibility of patient harm resulting directly or indirectly from equipment failure. Because of that we retain the records for 20 years as this is the required retention period for a minor patient in our state.
A: Engineering Records, Calibration Records, Instrument Calibration records performed in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. Current year + 3 years
Engineering Records, Equipment Inspection and Maintenance Records, Records relating to equipment inspection and required maintenance. Current year + 3 years
Engineering Records, Inspection Reports of Grounds and Buildings. Current year + 3 years. Engineering Records, Work Orders, 2 years.
Engineering Records, Thermometer Charts. Current year + 3 years
Engineering Records, Permits and Licenses, Includes health permits, boiler permits, fire inspection permits, FCC license, etc. Until expiration + 3 years
Q: Does anyone have any suggestions on the best interview questions to ask Biomedical Engineers and Biomedical Technicians to get a good understanding of a person’s technical experience?
A: I have three. 1. Describe for me an example of one of your most challenging repair experiences. 2. Which type of equipment repair (mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic) do you feel reflects your greatest strengths and abilities, and why? 3. Could you demonstrate for me how to replace a hospital grade plug? This requires providing the applicant with a power cord, plug and some basic tools.
A: I would try to assess a person’s technical experience by their ability to problem solve in real-life situations, more than a formal electronics test or specific technical questions. Example: If a nurse calls up and says her ECG monitor isn’t working, and you tell her to change the patient cable and lead wires, and she says “The patient cable and lead wires are new” – what’s the most likely problem with the monitor. Of course, the answer is, the patient cable and the lead wires.
A: Not necessarily the lead wires, I’ve seen my fair share of electrodes (patches and tabs) that the nurse has claimed to have just replaced, and they are not conducting due to dry gel. Another trend that’s started to rear its ugly head is the Philips MMS or X2 module misbehaving due to damage to the sockets where the only apparent cure is to replace the input board/socket assembly.
A: I would like to know how their customer service skills are.
A: Years ago I was interviewed for a job, and the supervisor of the shop did three things. First, he opened a print and described a problem and asked me where I would start looking to resolve it. Including which device DVM or scope I would use. Second, he put various components/parts in front of me and asked if I know what they were. These included lead sets, rj 45/11 phone jacks, (biomed did the phone system there), ultrasound probes, toco transducers, doppler probes, etc. Third, he asked me to walk around with him on a “service call” and asked my suggestions on what to do. He was an extremely solid guy, and he just wanted to see how I would handle a call. I did get the job and spent many years there, and worked with some very solid techs. I have been very blessed to have worked with some great service people. I have found that the environment of an organization and leadership is critical to a successful biomed department.
A: The other issue I have is training, they don’t teach equipment use as much anymore and the nurses do not know to look in the upper left hand corner to see which lead on a Philips ECG is having the issue. They don’t know about skin prep or they will have a patient with compromised skin, especially with the leg.
A: Our feeling is we can train the technical part, so our focus is to see how the individual fits in with our staff, their ability to think on their feet and how they present themselves. Curiosity and the ability to learn are talents that don’t show up on a resumé.
A: In addition to having one person meet them in the lobby to run them up the stairwell to the fourth floor, where the other Biomeds are ready to interview them while they’re catching their breath; here are some suggestions. 1. Hand them a power cord and a new plug to put on the end of it, along with wire cutters/strippers and a screwdriver. It’s a simple enough task, and you’ll see how comfortable they are using just these basic hand tools. If they don’t know how to replace a plug on a power cord (and leave extra slack for the ground), you’ll be cleaning up behind them, should you choose to hire them. 2. Always ask about networking skills, because so much of our equipment is networked. Why hire someone new who doesn’t even know what an IP address is? 3. Also ask about personal skills. How would they handle themselves in a confrontation with a nurse, doctor, patient, coworker, etc. 4. It would be good to know how articulate they are with their communication – both written and verbal. Oh, and spelling counts, too!
