AAMI: Military biomed engineers: We need you!

SAN ANTONIO—Biomedical equipment technology (BMET) leaders from the U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy outlined the importance of developing joint education and training efforts in providing maintenance for more than 500,000 medical devices for the Department of Defense (DoD). The first-ever DoD BMET Symposium, conducted during the 2011 Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) conference & expo on June 25, discussed the common challenges in maintaining more than $3 billion worth of government equipment.

Medical Education and Training Center
Acknowledging the need to cohesively unite the biomedical engineering programs of three branches of the military, Chief Warrant Officer Faaruwq Muhammad, director of the biomedical equipment maintenance technician training program at the U.S. Army, introduced the Medical Education and Training Center (METC) at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio as a facility created for all BMET military personnel.

“It’s important to collocate and consolidate—both logistically and financially—medical training and educational services,” said Muhammad, the center’s program director. 

Muhammad stressed the intensive course work and educational opportunities provided by the center. A new program begins every 11 days, with students graduating almost every two weeks. Both the Air Force and Army candidates complete the BMET program in 41 weeks; the Navy requires an additional 13 weeks to complete the course.

In an effort to stay current with today’s emerging technologies, Muhammad cited the need for continuous computer and electronics training for the center’s faculty, along with the importance of instructor certification (including A+, Net+ and Security+). Embracing software is another critical aspect of military biomedical engineering training in the 21 century.

“Software is now a major component of an engineer’s training, which is a major evolution since I was in school,” said Muhammad.

Armed Forces Biomedical Society
Another push to combine and coordinate the various BMET branches of the military exists in the form of a newly organized Armed Forces Biomedical Society (AFBS). A small but growing group, the AFBS emerged from leadership at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Md.

“The goal of the society is largely for students—from all branches of the military—to continue their education and to develop networking opportunities,” said Diego Gomez-Morales, CBET, staff officer at the U.S. Army's medical material agency national maintenance program.

Previous attempts to create a joint military biomedical society struggled to get off the ground, and Gomez-Morales stressed the need for clinical engineering support and participation. "There are 120 biomedical engineers at Fort Detrick," he said. "We know there are more out there."

Around the web

The American College of Cardiology has shared its perspective on new CMS payment policies, highlighting revenue concerns while providing key details for cardiologists and other cardiology professionals. 

As debate simmers over how best to regulate AI, experts continue to offer guidance on where to start, how to proceed and what to emphasize. A new resource models its recommendations on what its authors call the “SETO Loop.”

FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, MD, said the clinical community needs to combat health misinformation at a grassroots level. He warned that patients are immersed in a "sea of misinformation without a compass."

Trimed Popup
Trimed Popup