PRESIDENT's CORNER
I trust that everyone had a wonderful holiday season. I know that mine was very full of warm thoughts and feelings. I also decided that this year I would join the droves of individuals that take the Christmas holidays off. Coming back to work is a major reality check.I am looking forward to this coming year and hope we can continue to grow as an organization and as individuals. Lets start with a positive attitude and renewed vigor.
I was sitting here wondering what to write when the fire alarm went off. This brings images of people running to the rescue, fire trucks speeding down city streets, etc. It also brings to mind a time over in a small hospital overseas. An emergency was called and everybody that was scheduled to respond did so. Things were well in hand when it was discovered that a piece of equipment was needed. The needed item was. of course, on the other side of the hospital. In his haste to prevent any further harm to individuals or the hospital, a young man ran to get the item. On his way back he ran into a cart that was out a door. He ended up with only bruises; however, on the cart was a patient monitor that did not fare so well. In addition a patient was hit by the heavy monitor as it slid across the in several pieces. The outcome was approximately $2,500.00 in damages to equipment, moderate injury to a patient and minor injury to staff members. Oh, and the item never got to the emergency. Some people will argue with me, but there is no excuse to run in a hospital.
Congratulations to:
Ron Smeden,
CBET
of
CARROLL COUNTY
General Hospital
for passing his
BMET
certification exam.
ICC NEWS
Below are the answers to some commonly asked questions regarding the Evidence of Continuing Practice Program for the ICC certification renewal.
- What is the ICC's definition of a 'DAY'?
This refers to the attendance of meetings, especially regional or local biomedical association meetings. The BMET Board of Examiners has determined that, for its use, the term 'DAY' shall refer to any part of a day. Thus, an individual would receive a ½ point for attendance at a 2 or 3 hour local biomedical meeting. The same ½ point/day would be awarded for attendance at an AAMI or ASHE annual meeting. Additional credit would be awarded for attendance in educational seminars at these meetings. - At our hospital, we send one person to a manufacturer's
school and then he/she crosstrains other techs at the hospital. Is any credit
given for this?
Yes, Credit is awarded for both the individual providing the training and for the person being trained. - Does my writing departmental policy & procedure manuals
count as a published article or book?
No. Publishing is interpreted to refer to items produced for the perusal and review by the general public, or at least our profession. Internal departmental or company writings do not count unless published in a magazine, newsletter, or book for general dissemination. - How about articles that are published in my local
association's newsletter or website? (HINT-HINT)
Credit is given for a published article!
If you are a working BMET and you see major problems with your ability to meet the requirements, chances are that we have not explained a particular aspect of the program sufficiently. I encourage you to write or call Kathy Migbell at the AAMI office at (800) 332-2264 or (703) 525-4890 ext. 240 or call me direct at (404) 952-3068. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the program and your particular situation.
Patrick Lynch, CBET
Chairman
U.S. Board of Examiners for
Biomedical Equipment Technicians
TECHNICAL NOTES
The Johns Hopkins Hospital has noticed a common power supply
failure in Spacelabs Medical bedside monitors. The problem has occurred on
power supply assembly #308105 in the 90303 model bedside. Any one of the
following diodes located on the secondary side of the main transformer have
been known to short
out.
CR220
- 1N935
CR160
-
MR851
CR222
-
MR185 CR360
-
MR851
CR340
-
MR851 CR260
- MR851
This causes all supply voltages, except for the +/- 5 volts to be 0
volts.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Spacelabs Medical Inc.
- Customer Service Representative II
- Locations:
Charlotte, NC or Baltimore - Washington - 3 Years experience as a BMET
Contact:
Lee
Stiles
Regional
Service
Manager
Mid-Atlantic
Region
(800)
522-7025
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
The Clinical Engineering Department at The Johns Hopkins Hospital would like to know if any members of BMETS would be interested in attending a 2 to 3 day course on the Haemonetics Cell Savers, Models 3 and 4. The course would be taught by a Haemonetics trainer at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. The cost is $750.00. You must be a Haemonetics customer. If you want to attend this course please contact Jim Reiter at (410)955-5641 by January 11, 1995.
FUTURE MEETING
February's meeting will be sponsored by Scale-tronix. The presentation will be a service seminar covering everything about the complete line of scales from Scale-tronix. The evening will begin with a catered dinner. It will be held at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center on February 15, 1995 at 6:30pm. RSVP will be required since dinners need to be ordered. The phone number to call to RSVP will be in February's newsletter or you can let Jim Bissett know at the Advanced Sterilization Products meeting in January.
| BMETS - The Baltimore Medical Engineers and
Technicians Society, Inc. - is the Clinical/Biomedical Engineering organization
for Baltimore and surrounding area. Membership is open to anyone with an
interest in clinical engineering. Articles for publication in this newsletter
should be sent to: David A Eber, CBET 6008 Cedar Wood Drive Columbia, MD 21044 |