By Manny Jimenez, BSEET, CBET
All senior BMETs should be certified. Period. Whether your organization calls its most experienced technicians BMET IIIs, lead technicians, or any other title, they should be CBETs.
I realize that some readers will disagree with me, or find my position too extreme. But before you turn the page in disgust, hear me out. Over my 7 years of working in biomed, I have come to realize that there are several clear advantages for both the technician and the organization that employs him or her to require certification. To begin with, being certified demonstrates to everyone that a senior technician hasn’t just gotten to that position through longevity, but has actually proven his or her skill set and knowledge. It means that the technician has taken the time to understand the theories behind how many medical devices operate as well as how the human body functions. This is extremely crucial and provides them with broader knowledge, which equates to enhanced troubleshooting skills.
Helping your organization get better patient outcomes by ensuring the equipment is running at optimal condition is awesome! But there are other positives that come with certification that can make a big difference in your personal bottom line or employment opportunities. I don’t think that anyone can argue with the idea that getting certified can open more doors to better job opportunities and higher pay. In addition, with your certification you get recognition and credibility from your peers and industry colleagues, along with a feeling of both personal and professional achievement. All these factors help build momentum to get you to the next level in your career.
Challenges and Rewards
Getting certified is no easy feat. It demands that you step out of your comfort zone. Going for certification forces you to look past our beloved circuit boards and into new and different areas like the human body and how it works, or more recently, the inner workings of computers and networks. Naturally, as you study for the test and gain new knowledge, you start to see how what you are learning directly applies to your work, and how important it is to keep your non-electronics skills and knowledge as sharp as possible.
I remember when I first read about Einthoven’s triangle while studying for my CBET exam. I found it interesting. But when I actually applied my knowledge of it on a service call involving a telemetry box, I found it amazing—almost like magic!
Learning about the science of healthcare and studying for the CBET exam are synonymous. I can say from personal experience that it is the single most enriching professional experience any biomed can have.
Patient Safety Above All
If you’re not buying my argument yet, ask yourself this question: If a senior BMET does not know how to inspect a piece of life support equipment or does not fully understand how it operates or what it is used for, can he or she contribute to a patient incident?
If your answer is yes, then you already understand how this directly relates, and that in the case of our profession, certification is key, too. If your answer is no, ask yourself this: Exactly what planet are you on?
Now it’s true that certification is no guarantee of safety. But it does increase the likelihood that the work we technicians do will contribute to safe outcomes for patients. Certification shows a level of expertise. If you don’t know what you are doing, you can hurt patients. Testing people on their knowledge of theory before letting them near patients is a good idea for practitioners, and it is also a good idea for those of us who manage medical technology.
Since senior BMETs work on the most sophisticated life support equipment, if they lack the necessary knowledge of anatomy and physiology, equipment theory, and electronics, they might well pass a piece of equipment that should have failed. As a result, they can potentially contribute to a patient incident.
As part of the certification process, BMETs have to show knowledge of anatomy and physiology. Such knowledge is essential to spotting potential problems that uncertified technicians may simply miss. Here’s one example: Suppose a blood gas analyzer prints out a result of “1.” Seeing this number will alarm anyone with basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology. Unless the patient has battery acid for blood, it will be clear that the blood gas analyzer is out of calibration. On the other hand, to a technician without the knowledge of anatomy and physiology that the CBET exam requires, a readout of “1” may appear perfectly acceptable.
The combination of medical equipment theory with anatomy and physiology that certification requires enhances a technician’s troubleshooting ability. It can also help the BMET spot potential problems that nurses or doctors might not have noticed or reported yet. Only by making certification mandatory for all senior or higher-level BMETs can we really say that we are supporting this positive outcome.
No Disrespect
To those who feel disrespected or angry about what I am writing, especially those who have been in biomed longer than I’ve been alive, please do not misunderstand me. Realize the following:
- I would never say that certification makes you a better person than your peers. My point is simply that certification is one important indication of a quality technician.
- Not being certified is NOT an indication of how engaged you are in your department or the biomed industry, or even of your level of competency. I have not asserted that here and never will.
It is natural for those who have put in their time and paid their dues but are not certified to feel anger or resentment toward what I’m saying. I understand. But in the long run, I believe certification is good for our profession. Progress, respect, higher pay, and job security go hand-in-hand with mandatory certification for higher-level BMETs.
Think about this for a minute. You have worked hard to get to your level as a BMET. You went to school, you did the PMs, you completed the repairs—in other words, you paid your dues. Wouldn’t you like to know that for newcomers to get to your level, they need to pay their dues as well? Certification is one way to get that.
How We Get There
Now if you are wondering who would require certification, the truth is, I don’t know. But we should start taking baby steps by letting the department managers require CBET certification for their top-level BMETs.
In order for any of this to start to happen, a lot of people have to buy in. Enough managers and BMETs will have to advocate for this and start to implement it in their departments so that it becomes common practice. The best course of action for those who agree with me is to hold department meetings to start the conversation about certification. Reach agreements with management—many times, employers are willing to pay for the fees involved in certification.
These are just some of the reasons why I feel that certification of senior BMETs should be required. At the end of the day, it’s all about patient safety. The only way to ensure that we are doing all we can to protect patients is to insist upon having certified technicians verifying the proper operation of high-risk or life-support equipment.
Manny Jimenez, BSEET, CBET, is a senior BMET in New York. For more information, contact [email protected].
I understand and appreciate your comments and the position you have taken. Obviously you will receive negative feedback and here is one reason why using my experiences with not being a CBET and a coworker he had become certified.
I attended a 2 year AS program with a Biomedical Engineering focus. This was 1977 and rare to find, but living in Los Angeles this was available. I had to take the same Anatomy course that future RN’s take. We had to know the name and function of every bone, muscle, nerve and organ in the body including all the areas of sat e.g. the Femur. It isn’t just the Femur, it alone had about 10 different part names.
The electronic course work required not just theory, but we designed circuits as this 2 year program was a precursor to moving on to a Bach in Engineering degree.
As you know taking an Anatomy course is more intensive than boning up for a multiple choice test on anatomy.
I use to work on Ventilators. I use to work on Dialysis machines, EEG, EVR, EKG etc. I have after 25 years as a Biomed moved on to Imaging working on C-Arms, CT’s, Linear Accelerators (Clinacs).
In some cases certification for someone like me is moot. I have put in 35 years and will be gone in 5. I do believe that if someone has not received at least an A.S. in Biomedical Engineering, that they should be encouraged toward certification, easier than going to night school for the degree. We had 1 coworker who has retired 2 years ago at 62 that went through a 2 year biomed program at the Univ of Alabama that got certified back in 1995 as it was required to work in Florida where he was looking to move. He didn’t but remained with us. Remarks were made that if he could pass the certification test anyone could. He would often come to me to answer questions about anatomy and electronics that were basic. He once told me he had forgotten everything he had learned at U of A 6 months after graduating even though he came to us upon graduation and was able to utilize what he had learned. Not one of our 35 Imaging or Biomed techs are certified but some do have BA degrees.
Hello Daryl,
Thanks for your comment!
You are right to say that certification at this point, for a person with your level and years of experience, is moot. You have more years in Biomed and Healthcare Technology than I have been alive, which for some strange reason is the case with most of my coworkers and people I meet who are in the industry.
Because every other biomed I meet has 15+ years in the field, the norm is to rely on years on the field and experience as the key indicator of quality technicians. It’s not a bad thing at all. I love the fact that when I walk into a conference room full of my co-workers, there is over 120 years of collective industry experience.
The problem I have with that is that right now, there is nothing stopping your boss from saying that he will promote Joe Shmoe from the linen department to be your apprentice. Your boss can tell you that Joe has an A.S. in French Literature and once worked as an electrician’s helper and that will be that. Granted, this is an extreme case, but it can happen. There are no guardrails, no real definitive set of qualifications or anything like that to stop your boss from “hooking up” his buddy in linen.
Again, you are absolutely right to think that you have outgrown certification but I ask you to look past your own situation and think of how we can protect the profession as a whole. For the future generation of BMETs.
I know that certification is not the only answer when it comes to protecting our profession, but its a start. I have also heard stories of CBETs who “couldn’t fix themselves out of a wet bag,” as John Nobblit says in his certification review courses.
In the end, I’m an advocate for protecting the BMET profession, and although I completely understand your point of view and hesitations, I can’t help but see that so many things are changing in our field. Integration with IT, we do less and less (if any) component level repairs, along so many other changes already in effect. The line between IT and Biomed is getting fuzzier by the day and it’s just a matter of time before upper management can’t see it anymore.
Having a certification requirement will prompt upper level management to take a closer look at what it is we do in biomed and will make it easier for them to make the distinction between a biomed technician and an IT technician. I think this is the main reason why I have taken the position I have taken on certification: Because I feel this problem will get bigger and bigger as the years go on.
With that being said, am I asking for BMETs at your level to get certified even though you don’t need it? You betcha!
Will some people who probably don’t need to be certified be forced to certify if this way of thinking is adopted? Absolutely!
If you won’t do it for yourself, do it for the field. for the future of the field.
Otherwise, our profession may be lost in transmission. (That’s a pun.)
Thanks again!
-Manny
Certification will not “save the profession”. The biomed profession is deteriorating due to the lack of professionalism in dress and appearance, exhibiting K.I.A. (Know It All Disorder), and taking criticism personally. Biomeds earn trust by doing right, not always by being right. The drawback to your enthusiasm, which is fine if it helps your psyche, is that a “certified” official is not being held accountable for neglect such as witnessing a CBET not performing output checks on defibs, or turning off system utilities without notification! I see that you are downing a white lab coat.How many times has a Biomed been mistaken for a Clinician by wearing a white lab coat? Relate this to an RN or MD in being neglectful in their duties. I encourage the IT and Biomed merge but also keep a Specialist motivated by providing state of the art training and increase vendor training certifications. But remember, the more vendor training I have, the better my resume looks to your competition. Good luck Mr. Jimenez, BSEETT, CBET, in your quest for competent biomeds to perform as a professional, even if it happens during a Labor and Delivery code.
FM
I have an A.S. degree in Biomedical Equipment Technology and 20+ years in the profession. Yes, it looks good on paper to have CBET behind your name, but it’s only a title, and it will not make you a better or more KNOWLEDGEABLE BMET. Look at it this way: Neither JCAHO, CAP, nor any STATE in this country REQUIRE a BMET to be CERTIFIED. As it stands now, AAMI certification is only used to BRAG that you have it. The bottom line to any BMET that’s worth his weight are these FACTORs:
1). Can you read schematics and how good are you at comprehending a VENDOR’s service manual?
2). Are you dedicated to your profession?
3). Do you possess great communication skills?
Those 3 factors are CRUCIAL.
What I would love to see is a STATE requirement or JCAHO requirement for certification, NOT a privately owned board. As it stands now, anyone with just 2 years in the field can go get AAMI certified WITHOUT any COLLEGE education.
A STATE requirement or JCAHO requirement would remedy that problem and make it where you need a COLLEGE Degree FIRST before you can become certified. The AAMI board is downplaying a COLLEGE degree and TRUMPING it with their own CBET crap.
Physical Therapy
Respiratory Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Radiography Therapist
For all these professions above you NEED a COLLEGE degree before you can get STATE CERTIFIED….correct me if I am wrong, please.
I fought with myself every time I needed to pay another $150 to AAMI to renew. My CBET never helped my career, never got me the next position. This career is experience based, period. I was repeatedly discriminated because I was not the preferred personnel requirement fit of the day, many times. I am now retired. I worked biomed 10 years, was an EE for most of my career, got my biomed AA and went to BS – so what. Companies still got me to train the next guy to do a biomed job with NO biomed background, degree, mil exp. Pay was locked for most of my career – low by my previous standards. Basically a high stress thankless job with little respect from management. What do you expect? Just show up and do your job, that’s why you’re here. I was not alone in that assessment. Personally I feel AAMI is a very loosely run organization from CBET standpoint that pretty much just wants money. Ever call them? Hardly ever get a human, or call back. They lose your application and cash your check, then tell you you’re inactive. My vote is forget the CBET, that is of course it makes you feel better if you have one – no one else will care.
It’s good to know that when someone is BMET certified that it helps increases the safety of a patient since they know how to work the machines. Like making sure a life support machine is working correctly, so that the patient will stay alive, and no incidents will occur. As a potential patient in hospitals, I like going in knowing that the people there are able to do their job correctly and keep me safe.