Medical Equipment Repairer

Overview and Key Facts

What Do They Do?

A medical equipment repairer could...

Overview

Listen to this section

A medical equipment repairer, or medical equipment technician, has an essential role in the fields of healthcare and engineering. From X-ray machines to electric wheelchairs, the medical equipment repairer can fix a wide array of machinery used in hospitals and clinics. They have detailed knowledge of how machines and instruments are to be maintained, how they function, and how to repair them. Broken medical equipment costs hospitals and providers time, money, and may pose safety risks for patients. Repairing medical equipment quickly can save resources and even lives. Computer-based machines and technical equipment are being developed and continuously updated, keeping the job of medical equipment repairer in demand.

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Medical Equipment Repairer?

1. Getting Information: ? Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
2. Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: ? Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
3. Making Decisions and Solving Problems: ? Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
4. Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: ? Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
5. Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials: ? Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

6. Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: ? Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
7. Working with Computers: ? Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
8. Documenting/Recording Information: ? Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
9. Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: ? Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
10. Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: ? Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical principles.

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Medical Equipment Repairer might do:

• Inspect and test malfunctioning medical or related equipment, following manufacturers' specifications and using test and analysis instruments.
• Test or calibrate components or equipment, following manufacturers' manuals and troubleshooting techniques, using hand tools, power tools, or measuring devices.
• Keep records of maintenance, repair, and required updates of equipment.
• Perform preventive maintenance or service, such as cleaning, lubricating, or adjusting equipment.
• Test, evaluate, and classify excess or in-use medical equipment and determine serviceability, condition, and disposition, in accordance with regulations.
• Examine medical equipment or facility's structural environment and check for proper use of equipment to protect patients and staff from electrical or mechanical hazards and to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
• Disassemble malfunctioning equipment and remove, repair, or replace defective parts, such as motors, clutches, or transformers.
• Plan and carry out work assignments, using blueprints, schematic drawings, technical manuals, wiring diagrams, or liquid or air flow sheets, following prescribed regulations, directives, or other instructions as required.
• Research catalogs or repair part lists to locate sources for repair parts, requisitioning parts and recording their receipt.
• Solder loose connections, using soldering iron.
• Explain or demonstrate correct operation or preventive maintenance of medical equipment to personnel.
• Contribute expertise to develop medical maintenance standard operating procedures.
• Evaluate technical specifications to identify equipment or systems best suited for intended use and possible purchase, based on specifications, user needs, or technical requirements.
• Study technical manuals or attend training sessions provided by equipment manufacturers to maintain current knowledge.
• Compute power and space requirements for installing medical, dental, or related equipment and install units to manufacturers' specifications.
• Supervise or advise subordinate personnel.
• Fabricate, dress down, or substitute parts or major new items to modify equipment to meet unique operational or research needs, working from job orders, sketches, modification orders, samples, or discussions with operating officials.
• Repair shop equipment, metal furniture, or hospital equipment, including welding broken parts or replacing missing parts, or bring item into local shop for major repairs.
• Make computations relating to load requirements of wiring or equipment, using algebraic expressions and standard formulas.