A look at what’s shakin’ with local biomedical associations

WSBA
The Washington State Biomedical Association (WSBA) held its March meeting at Seattle’s Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center, where the topic was “The Used Medical Equipment Market.” Ron de Ru from BestUse Corp. and Chip Garber from Intellamed spoke after dinner, which was sponsored by both vendors. Greg Beach, manager of biomedical engineering, directed a tour through selected areas of the hospital.

HBA
Members of the Heartland Biomedical Association (HBA) got to the heart of the issue at their March meeting, focusing on the topic of cardiac output and devices. The meeting, held at the Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, featured cardiology staff member Brad Oldemeyer, M.D., who addressed the concepts and theory behind cardiac output measurements. A Respironics representative was on hand with an equipment presentation.

CABMET
Matt Baretich, president of Baritich Engineering, was the guest speaker at the March meeting of the Colorado Association of Biomedical Equipment Technicians (CABMET) held at the University Hospital in Denver. His topic, “Adapting to Changing Times,” looked at the biomed profession, its past, present and future. A round-table discussion followed on the hot topic of certification and/or licensing.

GCBS
Members of the Gulf Coast Biomedical Society (GCBS) in March traveled to Providence Hospital in Mobile, Ala., courtesy of Philips Medical Systems. The group attended a training session on the Bispectral Index (BIS) conscious sedation monitor and heard presentations by Steve Ponte of Philips and Pam Williamson of Aspect Medical Systems (Newton, Mass.). Planning, meanwhile, is under way for events later this year: a golf tournament, a fishing outing, a beach barbecue and a Florida biomed symposium.