Many of our readers are familiar with what it takes to design and test medical equipment, but what happens to this complex equipment after it leaves the manufacturer? People trained as biomedical equipment technicians are responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing medical equipment in hospitals and health practitioners’ offices across the country.
CAT scans, electrocardiograms, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasounds, and x-ray machines are just a few of the devices that need attention long after they leave the test lab. In order to ensure that the readings on medical devices are accurate, Biomedical Equipment Technicians test and calibrate parts and equipment, replace parts, and perform preventative maintenance and service.
Although there are no official prerequisites for the job, the best applicants are certified by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation and have an associate’s degree or higher in biomedical electronics or engineering. Students at biomedical electronics programs complete internships in a medical center, hospital or medical equipment manufacturer and take courses that are focused on electronics. It is a promising career, with employment projected to grow by 30 percent by 2022, due to two main factors: high demand for health care as baby boomers age and the increasing complexity of the equipment.
