Biomedical Equipment Technology - BMET.AS

The Biomedical Engineering Technology Program places emphasis on the knowledge and skill level needed to successfully address the needs of many types of medical equipment technologies including highly specialized and sophisticated equipment and instrumentation found in health care settings. Biomedical Engineering Technologists (BMETs) ensure that medical equipment is well-maintained, properly configured, and safely functional.  BMETs repair a wide range of electronic, electromechanical, and hydraulic equipment used in hospitals and health practitioners’ offices. They may work on patient monitors, defibrillators, ventilators, anesthesia machines, and other life-supporting equipment. They also may work on medical imaging equipment (x rays, CAT scanners, and ultrasound equipment), voice-controlled operating tables, and electric wheelchairs. In addition, they repair medical equipment that dentists and eye doctors use. Additionally, BMETs educate, train, and advise staff and other agencies on theory of operation, physiological principles, and safe clinical application of biomedical equipment maintaining the facility’s patient care and medical staff equipment. Senior experienced BMETs perform the official part in the daily management and problem solving of healthcare technology beyond repairs and scheduled maintenance; such as, capitol asset planning, project management, budgeting and personnel management, designing interfaces and integrating medical systems, training end-users to utilize medical technology, and evaluating new devices for acquisition. BMETs are typically employed by hospitals, clinics, private sector companies, and the military.

Students in this option will become technically proficient in repairing and maintaining biomedical instruments.  Throughout the program, students will repair, test, maintain and manage a large variety of medical equipment technologies. Performance testing procedures and equipment management practices will be emphasized and performed in the lab and hospital setting. Classroom content will focus on the use, design, manufacturing and operation of medical equipment. This program may also serve as the first two years of study in an undergraduate degree in Engineering Technology.

This program provides students with exposure to hospital Clinical Engineering Departments through an internship with Baystate Medical Center, which provides our student interns experience working on medical equipment with and among hospital personnel. Students will work under the supervision of an experienced BMET and will keep a journal of equipment worked on and tasks performed.

Graduates will be prepared to serve as biomedical engineering technicians in hospitals and medical research centers, either as employees of these institutions or employees of contracted service firms. These technicians will be capable of installing, inspecting, maintaining, repairing and calibrating biomedical equipment.

Upon successful completion of the requirements for this program, the degree of Associate in Science in Biomedical Engineering Technology will be awarded.