Biomedical technicians (BMET) play a critical role in ensuring the smooth operation of the retail health clinics located in pharmacies or retail stores. Their proactive approach to the installation, maintenance, and repair of medical equipment used in retail health clinics ensures healthcare professionals are equipped to deliver care to their patients accurately and efficiently.
This article will explore the specific ways biomedical technicians contribute to keeping retail health clinics running.
You will learn:
- The Importance of Retail Clinics
- How Biomedical Technicians Support Retail Clinics
The Importance of Retail Clinics
Retail health clinics are important to the continuum of care for their role in improving access to convenient preventative services and treatment of minor ailments. These clinics offer convenience and accessibility to healthcare with extended hours and walk-in services. Additionally, transparent pricing for services is beneficial to people without comprehensive health insurance.
By offering quick and accessible treatment of minor injuries, retail clinics can help reduce the strain on emergency rooms, freeing emergency staff to focus on more critical cases.
Retail health clinics are essential to the bigger picture of the continuum of care. However, the continued success of these facilities is inextricably tied to the health of their medical equipment. Biomedical technicians are on the front lines of ensuring medical equipment is in optimal working order.
How Biomedical Technicians Support Retail Clinics
NASCAR drivers rely on their pit crew to keep their cars in the race. Retail clinic staff rely on biomedical technicians to keep medical equipment in optimal working order for quality patient care.
Here’s how biomedical technicians contribute to the effective healthcare offered by retail clinics.
Equipment Installation and Calibration
Biomedical technicians can assist with the proper installation and incoming inspections of medical equipment used in retail clinics. Incoming inspections and electrical safety checks on equipment such as
- AEDs,
- blood pressure units
- diagnostic devices
- ECG machines
- power exam tables
- scales
- sterilizers
- vital signs monitors
is essential for the reliable and precise readings healthcare professionals rely on for diagnostic and treatment decisions.
Routine Maintenance
Regular scheduled maintenance is the first defense against medical equipment failure and for extending the service life of the equipment., Biomedical technicians perform preventive maintenance which extends the service life of the equipment. This maintenance includes thoroughly cleaning the equipment, functional testing, and inspecting parts for wear or damage. Any problems identified during preventive maintenance can be corrected at the same time, avoiding problems that could impact the integrity of the device. This proactive approach helps minimize equipment downtime and ensures equipment is in optimal working order at all times, reducing the risk of lost revenue associated with equipment failure.
Service and Repairs
Despite planned and comprehensive preventive maintenance programs, medical equipment can malfunction or break down. Biomedical technicians are trained to assess and diagnose problems quickly. Because BMETs are scrupulously trained they are often able to help staff troubleshoot, and even resolve, an issue over the phone.
When a service call is needed for more complex issues, BMET’s can perform the necessary repairs on-site.
At the end of the day the rapid response of biomedical technicians can save a retail health clinic thousands of dollars in equipment downtime and minimize disruption to daily operations.
Regulatory Compliance
Biomedical technicians perform regular inspections on medical equipment used in retail clinics to ensure it complies with federal, industry, and local standards and regulations. Compliance is important for the safety of patients and staff but can also impact the level of reimbursement from insurance companies and facility reputation.
Asset Validation and Tagging
During check-in or maintenance biomedical technicians tag equipment with barcoded asset control tags or radio frequency identification (RFID) for asset management and maintenance documentation. Once equipment is tagged and uploaded into a computerized maintenance management program (CMMP), biomedical technicians can manage maintenance scheduling, service history, and manufacturer upgrades and recalls for the medical equipment assets of a retail clinic, freeing staff to focus on patient care.
Upgrades and Technology Integration
As technology advances, biomedical technicians will be there to help retail health clinics integrate new equipment. This may take the form of advanced diagnostic tools or incorporating devices into electronic health record systems.
Training and Support
BMET’s can provide training to retail clinic staff on the proper use and care of essential medical equipment. This is especially important as technology evolves, and new equipment is introduced to the workflow of the retail clinic. Additionally, biomedical technicians can teach staff how to troubleshoot equipment to assess and resolve equipment issues more efficiently.
Although not on the actual frontline of patient care, the services delivered by biomedical technicians are essential to retail clinic staff for efficient workflows and quality patient care.
Why Retail Medical Clinics Rely on CME Corp. Biomedical Technicians
Biomedical services have been at the heart of CME for over forty-five years. We are the only medical equipment distributor nationwide with an in-house team of biomedical technicians available to conduct asset tagging, asset validation, medical equipment check-in, preventive maintenance, and equipment repair.
We employ and train our own biomedical technicians, assuring the highest level of technical support for our clients. CME BMET’s are required to hold, at minimum, an associate degree or equivalent in an applied science such as biomedical or electrical engineering at the time they are hired.
Incoming BMET’s skills are assessed, and they are paired with a senior CME biomedical technical for 30-180 days, based on their skill level.
Continuing education and training is available to all CME BMET’s through our manufacturing partners, regulatory bodies, and on-line classes to ensure our teams remain current with technology advances and regulations.
CME encourages the advancement of each of their technicians in the field of biomedical engineering and contributes to their certifications.
Click CHAT to talk with a CME expert about your biomedical service needs.
About CME: With two corporate offices and 35+ service centers, CME Corp is the nation’s only equipment focused medical equipment distributer. We are the premier source for more than 2 million healthcare equipment products, from more than 2,000 manufacturers.
Our Turnkey logistics and biomedical services allow us to help healthcare facilities nationwide reduce the cost of the equipment they purchase, make their equipment selection, and schedule delivery, installation, and maintenance without impacting patient care. From medical equipment purchases to renovations and new facility construction CME Corp is your partner for seamless capital medical equipment purchases, delivered on time and in budget.
