Making the Right Hires And Helping Them Succeed

Abstract

Carol Wyatt, MPA, CBET, is a manager of biomedical engineering at Baylor Health Care System in Plano, TX. E-mail: CarolWy@BaylorHealth.edu Have you ever had the opportunity to speak to biomed students and have them ask you, “What can I do to prepare myself to work in a hospital environment?” As you think about their question, you realize the little things that are common and routine to us can be a source of anxiety for a new hire. What elevators should I use? Can I go into a patient’s room? What if the patient talks to me or, worse, asks for help? Do I have to talk to the nurses, doctors, or other techs? What if I break something? Just tell those eager biomed students what you would expect from them in those situations. As the hiring manager, you hold the key to successfully acclimating a new customer service-oriented biomedical equipment technician to your team and your organization. Biomeds are no longer just repair techs. They are ambassadors of the biomed department and must be able to interact with the directors, managers, and even the C-Suite. The biomedical field is a customer service field with a technical skill set requirement.