Biomedical Equipment Technician
A Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET) is a professional responsible for the inspection, maintenance, calibration, modification, and repair of various biomedical devices critical for medical diagnosis and treatment. This role typically requires an associate's degree, with no prior related work experience necessary, though moderate on-the-job training is essential. BMETs work in environments such as hospitals, clinics, and laboratories, and their shifts may vary to accommodate the needs of the healthcare industry. Their tasks include servicing equipment like x-ray machines, defibrillators, and prosthetic devices, as well as ensuring safety checks are performed on machines, especially those that emit radiation.
Individuals in this profession are generally detail-oriented, analytical, and possess strong problem-solving skills. They are also expected to communicate effectively with medical personnel, providing training on the proper use of equipment. With an average yearly salary of approximately $60,670 and a job outlook projected to grow much faster than average, the BMET field offers a stable and rewarding career path for those interested in mechanical and technical work within the healthcare sector.
Biomedical Equipment Technician
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Manufacturing
Interests: Mechanical work, precision work, sciences, solving problems, analyzing information
Earnings (Yearly Average): $60,670 per year $29.17 per hour
Employment & Outlook: 13% (Much faster than average)
Entry-Level Education Associate's degree
Related Work Experience None
On-the-job-Training Moderate-term on-the-job training
Overview
Sphere of Work. Biomedical equipment technicians, also called service technicians or medical equipment repairers, are responsible for the inspection, maintenance, calibration, modification, and repair of a wide range of biomedical equipment. They may specialize in equipment needed for radiology, nuclear medicine, surgical operations, dialysis, intensive care, clinical laboratories, or dental medicine.
Work Environment. Biomedical equipment technicians may work in medical facilities or in equipment repair shops. They generally work forty-hour weeks. Their shifts may include days, evenings, weekends, or on-call hours to meet the medical community’s need for functional, safe biomedical equipment. Biomedical equipment technicians are at risk for exposure to radiation, noxious fumes, infection, and job-related injuries due to machine accidents and electric shock.
Occupation Interest. Individuals drawn to the profession of biomedical equipment technician tend to be intelligent, analytical, and detail oriented. Those most successful as biomedical equipment technicians display traits such as physical strength, hand-eye coordination, focus, problem-solving abilities, manual dexterity, and reliability. Biomedical equipment technicians should enjoy mechanical work and thrive under pressure.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. A biomedical equipment technician inspects, services, repairs, and calibrates electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment that medical personnel rely on for the diagnosis and treatment of patients. During a typical workday, the biomedical equipment technician may design or install new biomedical equipment, perform routine maintenance on equipment with motors and filters, or service devices such as electric and pneumatic drills, EKG machines, prosthetic devices, and x-ray machines. The biomedical equipment technician prepares and cleans the tools used for equipment repair and maintenance and follows manufacturers’ manuals as guides for troubleshooting and fixing equipment. For a repair, they must assess the equipment’s condition, locate the malfunctioning parts, replace or modify the necessary pieces, and correctly reassemble the equipment. Cleaning and calibration are common maintenance activities. The biomedical equipment technician also performs safety checks on all biomedical equipment and machines, particularly those emitting radiation for use in nuclear medicine, and makes recommendations regarding when to acquire new technologies and when to take medical equipment out of service due to obsolescence, age, or disrepair.
Biomedical equipment technicians are also responsible for all communication related to their work. They track supply inventories and record the type and date of all inspections, maintenance, services, repairs, and calibrations performed on medical equipment in equipment logs. Biomedical equipment technicians also make copies of all inspection certificates for equipment owners, medical office staff, or hospital personnel. Whenever necessary, they notify equipment manufacturers of faulty parts. Their most important duty may be teaching medical personnel such as physicians, laboratory technicians, nurses, scientists, and engineers how to care for and use biomedical equipment on a daily basis.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Biomedical equipment technicians generally spend their workdays in hospitals, medical clinics or offices, laboratories, medical instrument manufacturers and suppliers, or equipment repair shops. Travel to repair sites is sometimes required. Technicians must follow safety procedures and wear proper eye protection and masks to avoid job-related illnesses and injuries.
Human Environment. Biomedical equipment technicians should be comfortable interacting with biomedical engineers, hospital engineers, physicians, laboratory technicians, nurses, scientists, and patients. They are supervised by biomedical engineers and hospital engineers, and often provide instruction and training to other medical or laboratory personnel.
Technological Environment. Biomedical equipment technicians use a wide variety of tools and equipment to complete their work, including hand tools, power tools, soldering irons, and measuring devices such as voltage meters, precision levels, and pressure gauges. They are trained to disassemble, service, repair, and calibrate equipment such as x-ray machines, defibrillators, patient monitors, patient call systems, electrocardiographs, electroencephalographs, electric drills, pneumatic drills, blood-gas analyzers, anesthesia machines, pacemakers, blood-pressure transducers, sterilizers, and diathermy machines. In addition to Internet communication tools and standard office applications, biomedical equipment technicians may use maintenance management programs and medical equipment diagnostic software.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. High school classes in drafting, electronics, science, health, and mathematics will provide a strong foundation for work as a biomedical equipment technician or college-level study in the field. Students interested in this career path will benefit from seeking apprenticeships or part-time jobs that expose the students to machine repair or engineering.
Postsecondary. Although some positions do not require formal postsecondary training, aspiring biomedical equipment technicians should work toward an associate or bachelor’s degree in biomedical equipment engineering, electronics engineering, or a related field. These programs usually include coursework in mathematics, chemistry, physics, technical writing, circuitry, electronic devices, and drafting. Postsecondary students can gain work experience and potential advantage in their future job searches by securing internships or part-time employment in machine repair or engineering environments.
Related Occupations
− Electromechanical Equipment Assembler
− Electronic Equipment Repairer
− Telecommunications Equipment Repairer
Bibliography
“Medical Equipment Repairers.” Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Dept of Labor, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/medical-equipment-repairers.htm. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.
“Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023: 498-9062 Medical Equipment Repairers.” Occupational Employment Statistics, 3 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes499062.htm. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.