By K. Richard Douglas
The healthcare technology management (HTM) field has faced a dilemma in recent years; a flood of experienced baby-boom biomeds exiting the profession and a decreased number of training programs and new recruits to replace them.
With the exiting veteran biomeds goes decades of experience and knowledge. Much of that experience is hard to find in a book or a classroom. The profession doesn’t only need replacements for these departing technicians, but dedicated, knowledge-absorbing rookies who can go above-and-beyond in their pursuit of excellence.
Thankfully, there are biomeds who have accepted that challenge.
The steady exit of baby-boom biomeds began as early as 2015, but the pace continued and the profession has seen the aging of a large number of HTM pros, resulting in knowledgeable staff exiting the workforce. AAMI says that nearly half of the HTM workforce is over the age of 50.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook projects 6,300 openings annually for biomed technicians for the decade 2020-2030.
AAMI’s new apprenticeship program seeks to address this need for new biomeds by offering “4,000 to 6,000 hours of paid, on-the-job training in safety, electronics, anatomy, information technology and more,” according to the organization’s website. The program leads to the certified associate in biomedical technology (CABT) certification.
As is the case in every profession, there are biomeds who plan to make the work of a technician their career. There are others, who know from the very start, that they will put in the time and work to gain experience and then move into management. Others will use biomed as a springboard to move into related careers. In the end, they all serve the needs of the patients and clinicians who they work with; directly or indirectly.
Whether working as an in-house technician or in a support role for an independent service organization, the following professionals have the initiative, outstanding characteristics of leadership and commitment to their employers to take HTM into the next generation.
Sharing the Knowledge Through Social Media
The subject of a recent “Shifting Gears” feature, Mayra Becerra, CBET, has shown the spirit and dedication that has expanded her influence as an HTM professional. Becerra is still a newcomer to biomed, having started in the profession in 2016.
In an effort to bring biomed training and tips to a younger generation of biomeds, Becerra went to the platforms that younger biomeds utilize; YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. She started a channel called “TheBiomedGirl.” Her channels target the Millennials and Gen-X’ers who are entering the profession.
She is also chair of the South Florida Association for Medical Instrumentation. Quite a resume for someone newer to the field.
Like Becerra, Justin Barbour, a Houston-area biomed, provides training and insights to biomeds through his YouTube channel “Better Biomed”. Barbour has more than 300 videos on his channel and produced his first video three years ago. He is a big fan of online resources.
“I honestly believe that the future of medical technology will revolve around a community of content creators – each with their own experiences and perspectives,” Barbour says.
He says that he was military trained, serving nine and a half years, when he moved to South Carolina to start a civilian career as a BMET 3.
“I have run two biomed shops and served along with some excellent mentors in several hospitals,” Barbour says.
He says that three years ago, he made a video to train the local electricians on the electrical properties of an isolated electrical system that is found in operating rooms.
“They didn’t understand how the isolation prevents people from getting electrically shocked. The video worked so well that I created several others and helped train two members of my team that joined without any prior biomed experience,” Barbour says.
He says that as he works through the day, he is curious about the details surrounding most items that biomeds interact with that few understand. He says that he studies these topics, writes a script and then records each topic as a new video.
“Now I have over 300 videos on my channel. I cover simple how-to’s, biomed basics, device teardowns, exploration of medical device failures, professional development and even daily vlog-type videos. I have been written to by biomeds from almost every country that I can think of and even a few that I never knew existed,” Barbour says.
As is the case with Becerra, Barbour is grateful for the many mentors and others who have shared their knowledge along the way.
What bigger contribution can a biomed make than to spread knowledge and tips to the greater HTM community?
Former Biomed Supporting Biomeds
Starting a career in biomed doesn’t mean that you will retire as a biomed. There are many who have proven that biomed can be a stepping stone and that training, education and aspiration can take a biomed in different directions.
Priyanka Upendra is the senior director of customer success at ASIMILY, which is a provider of Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) risk management.
Although Upendra started out as an intern, repairing and supporting non-high-risk equipment, she later was hired as a clinical engineer working on high-risk devices/equipment in endoscopy, respiratory therapy, critical care units, and then the operating room.
“I later started working with IT and cybersecurity on integration projects – anesthesia, bedside monitors, and ventilators; which then led to my role as a project manager for a nurse call project to integrate with active directory and then server configurations to meet security requirements,” Upendra says.
She says that is when she transitioned as a clinical technology analyst and took over HTM/CE-IT projects, including some budget forecasting and cost savings projects and that led her to working with IT and cybersecurity departments on medical device cybersecurity.
This experience, and much more, along with attaining bachelor’s and master’s degrees, led her on a career path that supports the biomed community in a new role.
“I have had immense support and guidance from many HTM leaders, colleagues and friends,” she says.
She also has found it beneficial to be engaged in professional societies such as AAMI, ACCE, HIMSS, ACHE, CMIA and BMES.
Rookie Biomeds Making Waves
Biomed Maria Symonds began her journey into HTM because of her love of science, from physics to general electronics, according to Perry Kirwan, vice president of technology management at Banner Health.
“Beginning her secondary education with an eye towards medical physics, she was introduced to the HTM field by a cousin who was attending a different technical school. Since she was very interested in the field, and wanted to do something to benefit mankind, she chose to switch schools and majors,” Kirwan says.
He says that she entered into HTM in 2014, with education at Technological National de Mexico. She graduated with honors and then volunteered at Sonoran State Children’s Hospital to expand her experience.
“She continued to work in the field until applying and being accepted to Banner Health Technology Management at our Banner Del Webb Medical Center in Sun City, Arizona. This is her first actual HTM position,” Kirwan says.
He says that she started at Banner in June 2020 and has not stopped moving since.
“Her thirst for knowledge and ability to absorb experiences and new modalities makes her a great asset to the shop, her co-workers, Banner Health, and the field of HTM. She has gained experience and has shown that she is committed to this field for the long haul,” Kirwan says.
One of Symond’s Banner colleagues is Jacob Dreiling, biomed tech I. He works at Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix.
“Jacob started his career path much earlier than most at the age of 11, exploring a summer apprenticeship with a local engineering firm, moving on to flight school training for a year, then progressing to a career in the automotive service industry. On his resume he states ‘I was not using my analytical mind to its best ability. I discovered the best use of my talents was in diagnostics and repair of electrical equipment,’ ” says Stacey Parman, technology management/ENTECH director, BUMC-P at Banner.
She says that this quest led Dreiling to an application within Banner’s Technology Management department as a “Biomed Observer” in which he faithfully volunteered several hours per week on his days off from his regular full-time job as an automotive technician at a local Toyota dealership.
“From July through December of 2019, Jacob shadowed all the technicians in the shop, spending time learning and gaining valuable experience with the goal of one day becoming a member of the BUMCP team. Jacob has an incredible lust for knowledge and the intellect to process and retain information much faster than most. He quickly assimilated with the team, and his positive attitude, high energy and easygoing nature made him a natural fit with the entire team and leadership,” Parman says.
She says that in early 2020, a technician I opportunity became available, and Banner couldn’t wait for the chance to bring Dreiling on as a full-time paid employee. “That is one of the best hiring decisions we’ve ever made as his performance has taken off exponentially from day one,” Parman adds.
She says that now, just 19 months into the position, Dreiling has gained prominence among the team and is easily recognizable by staff and leaders at the facility as one of the subject matter experts on a variety of equipment and systems.
“In a few short months, using knowledge and experience gained from the observer role, Jacob quickly became proficient and moved beyond the routine electromechanical tech I introductory support equipment such as infusion pumps, beds, stretchers, lifts and OR tables,” Parman adds.
Mike Busdicker, MBA, CHTM, FACHE, system director of clinical engineering at Intermountain Environment of Care also has newcomers who make a difference.
One has been with the Intermountain team for just three years.
“Kayla Heppler is currently our CE central support manager and has responsibility for the service coordination center, parts/inventory, service contracts, KPIs/metrics, budgets, allocations, data integrity and overall system level reports. She joined our department in 2018 and has continued to earn the respect of our frontline CE caregivers, CE leaders and all of the clinical caregivers she works with daily,” Busdicker says.
He says that she has a master’s in healthcare administration from Weber State University and a bachelor’s in finance from Dixie State University.
“She works with all of our in-house team, authorized service providers, co-chairs the system capital planning committee, and has been instrumental helping achieve over $5 million in savings to Intermountain Healthcare since joining our team. There is no doubt she will be a future leader in the HTM industry, if we do not lose her to overall health care system operations,” Busdicker says.
He says that Johnathan Miller, Newton Holmquist, Max Saltern, Michael Miller and Samantha Sim have all been recent additions to the frontline CE caregiver team.
“The unique thing is that Johnathan, Newton, Max and Michael are all second-generation technicians here at Intermountain and Samantha’s brother is a technician at one of our sites,” Busdicker says.
Another promising HTM professional who is newer to the system is Samar Al Ibrahim, who currently works in the medical equipment cybersecurity area and does an outstanding job, according to Busdicker.
“She has been with Intermountain Healthcare for three years and has been instrumental in the implementation of our cybersecurity program for medical equipment. Her desire to make a difference and be involved with moving the industry forward will open many doors for her to be a leader here at Intermountain Healthcare and within healthcare technology management. Samar has a master’s and bachelor’s degree in bioengineering and biomedical engineering from the Catholic University of America,” Busdicker says.
Children’s of Alabama Director of Biomedical Engineering Kelvin Knight sees a good future in HTM for a couple of recent additions to his team.
“Katelyn Reynolds is a BMET I who has just become eligible for a promotion to BMET II with two years of experience. Katelyn has been with Children’s since graduating Jefferson State Community College in August of 2019 with an associate of science in biomedical technology. She has excelled in her work and is taking classes in the evening at UAB to complete a bachelor of science in healthcare administration. I am confident Katelyn will one day become a leader in the HTM profession,” Knight says.
One of her colleagues is Alex Flemming, a clinical engineer with Children’s of Alabama.
Knight says that Flemming has an interesting story.
“Alex came to us as a BMET I after completing the Jefferson State Community College Biomedical Technician program. Alex quickly achieved certifications for AAMI’s Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET) and Certified Laboratory Equipment Specialist (CLES). He previously completed a four-year degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB),” Knight says.
He says that Alex became interested in working on medical equipment during an internship for his UAB program while at the VA Medical Center in Birmingham.
“His unique educational background, with the combination of biomedical engineering and biomedical technology, bring a wealth of knowledge to our HTM team. Alex has excelled as a technician and now as a clinical engineer. Alex has elevated our HTM program with projects such as creating 3D printed models of various body parts to help with our simulation center’s clinical training program,” Knight says.
He says that Flemming has helped the department develop his clinical engineer position and Knight looks forward to further developing the clinical engineering program at Children’s of Alabama with his help.
“One day, I expect to see Alex at the top of the HTM profession as a leader in clinical engineering,” Knight says.
Another younger biomed who has made an impact on the HTM field is Connor Walsh, biomedical engineer for the Department of Veteran Affairs’ Office of Electronic Health Modernization.
Walsh is a biomedical engineer and hybrid IT professional with near 10 years of progressive experience in healthcare technology management (HTM) and information technology (IT). In his current role, he supports nationwide medical device integration to the new Cerner electronic health record (EHR).
Walsh says he has a strong understanding of the federal U.S. government cybersecurity policy and plays key roles which range from supporting initial medical system connectivity at VA facilities undergoing EHR transition to facilitating final medical system approval to operate and connect.
Walsh has obtained various professional certifications, including Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Cisco Networking Associate (CCNA), Net+ and is a graduate of the VHA leadership development institute.
In addition to normal duties, Walsh is co-chair of the national VHA HTM Training and Education workgroup and is a cybersecurity columnist for TechNation. Prior to his new role, he was also co-chair of the national VHA HTM vulnerability management workgroup. Walsh has been an invited speaker to past AAMI and MD Expo conferences, featured in the AAMI BI&T journal on career progression through HTM, and moderator for ACCE webinars.
TRIMEDX Biomed I Cindy Orozco gets the nod from her boss as a biomed to watch. She works at Indiana University Health.
“She began her career in clinical engineering with an internship through IU Health in February 2021 and accepted a full-time role with TRIMEDX serving IU Health in May 2021. In this role, Cindy has been managing and maintaining equipment in the cath lab, heart station, ER and telemetry unit,” says Lisann Goodin-Burton, TRIMEDX systems director of clinical engineering at Indiana University Health.
She says that Orozco is originally from Logansport, Indiana. Orozco began her undergraduate studies at IUPUI. After first declaring her major in health science, she learned about the healthcare engineering technology management program and went on to earn an associate degree and fulfill her dreams of working hands-on in a health technology field. She plans to continue her education and earn a bachelor’s degree.
“We are excited about Cindy and her growth at TRIMEDX. As an intern, she has shown that she is not afraid to learn new things and ask questions; and she continues to do so as a TRIMEDX associate, owning her work, showing vulnerability and a willingness to jump in and help the team,” Goodin-Burton says.
Will the flood of exiting experienced biomeds impact the field and their employer? There is no doubt, but with the level of talent entering the profession, the HTM field should be in good shape in the years ahead.