Medical instrument technicians can work with a variety of medical equipment.
Medical instrument technicians are medical personnel who operate a variety of medical support equipment, according to DegreeDirectory.org. These professionals work under the supervision of physicians. Average medical instrument technician salaries in 2010 were $40,000, according to SimplyHired.com. Medical instrument technicians must possess a variety of skills and education to succeed in this wide-ranging and growing field.
Employment Advertisement
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management considers a medical instrument technician as a health care worker who maintains and operates equipment used for surgical support, diagnostic tests or specific therapies. Employment advertisements for medical instrument technicians usually are accompanied a particular equipment operator type. For example, a federal government job opening for an ultrasound technician is advertised as "Medical Instrument Technician (Ultrasound)," according to DegreeDirectory.org.
Equipment Types
Medical instrument technicians can be responsible for working with several pieces of equipment. These might include a dialyzer, which removes waste from the blood in patients with renal failure. These professionals also might use ultrasound equipment, which uses sound waves to create images of internal organs. In addition, medical instrument technicians might use electromyographs, which measure electrical activity in muscles. Still other types of equipment include electrocardiographs, which record heart activity, and spirometers, which measure lung capacity. An exercise tolerance testing system might be used to diagnose heart disease as well.
Duties
Medical instrument technicians are responsible for performing procedures and tests as directed by doctors. They must position their patients and make sure patients are comfortable. Their duties might include monitoring a patient, sometimes for hours. They clean, maintain and test their medical instruments. Medical instrument technicians should be able to lift heavy equipment and do a lot of walking and standing. These professionals often work in hospitals or medical clinics as well as laboratories, outpatient care centers and doctors' offices.
Skills
Medical instrument technicians must have a strong understanding of human anatomy and physiology, as well as knowledge of the capabilities and operating characteristics of one or more kinds of instruments, according to Active Career People. In addition, these professionals should have a practical understanding of medical data that a piece of equipment used on a patient produces. The use of some equipment also requires medical instrument technicians to understand mathematics, chemistry, physics and pharmacology. In addition, they should show empathy toward patients and be able to handle confidential information, according to California-based Kaiser Permanente, a managed care organization.
Education
Many medical instrument technicians complete two-year degree programs at community colleges or vocational schools. The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs accredits many health programs that train students to use medical instruments, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some hospitals offer training programs, and some technicians can train on the job. Medical instrument technicians in various fields additionally can become credentialed to expand employment opportunities. Examples of certifying organizations include the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography for ultrasound technicians and Credentialing International for cardiovascular technicians. Some positions require job candidates to have a year of experience in the field, while others require three to five years of experience.
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