A number of months back we posted a poll question submitted by one of our readers: On average, how many devices should a biomedical technician be responsible for? We also gave some suggestions to tick off, such as 500, 1,000, etc. In addition to the responses registered, I received a number of e-mails from readers who made some very good points. One person said a tech is responsible for everything in the department. Another said: "This depends on the device. High tech devices should be less items to maintain then low tech equipment, but as biomeds we do a lot of nonmedical equipment also—this is what I would like to get rid of."

Someone else suggested that it's hard to give an exact number because the biomed may be required to travel, which needs to be factored in to the time available for repairs. We didn't have a forum before for posting the responses, so I'm hoping you'll comment now and share your ideas on this topic.

Thanks for reading 24x7 and our blog, and Happy New Year to all of you!

Have you clicked on our Sneak Peek on our home page? By doing so you’ll get an advance look at the results of our 2008 Compensation Survey. You’ll find after reading it that training is something a lot of you said you’d like but don’t always get. Biomed Manager Debra Grigg of Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare has a concern about this very issue and is reaching out to all of you for some advice and feedback. We’ll be looking forward to your comments. Here’s what she said:

I have a concern and would like some feedback. I have been a biomed department manager for over 15 years. What I am starting to see is a drastic change in the ability for the biomed manager/director to obtain precious biomed training for my staff. It seems that the training is “written off” as a cost savings to the purchase price of the capital equipment or imaging system. In other words, the sales reps are not including biomedical training in the capital quote. It is put in as an “option” to be added to the capital cost of the equipment. Our hospital currently has a policy that will not allow any training cost to be purchased as capital equipment since it cannot be depreciated.

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