At Houston Methodist, the Biomedical Clinical Engineer position is responsible for assuring the safe and effective use of medical equipment in the hospital by applying and implementing medical technology to optimize healthcare delivery. This position has a direct impact on safety, quality improvement, process improvement, utilization, adoption, and efficiency of the organization's patient care medical equipment program. Ensuring full compliance with all manufacturers, regulatory, institutional, and departmental guidelines, the Biomedical Clinical Engineer position serves as departmental representative for hospital initiatives and committees. This position is responsible primarily for applying and implementing medical technology to optimize healthcare delivery. The Biomedical Clinical Engineer position includes training biomedical equipment technicians, working with hospital inspections/audits, and serving as technological consultants for other hospital staff (i.e., physicians, administrators, IT, etc.). This position includes participating in the planning process and in the assessment of new technology, assuring regulatory compliance in the medical technology management area, leading investigation of incidents, and actively participating in training and education of technical and medical personnel.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience.

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Displays cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion principles

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Serves as Biomedical Engineering department point of contact for outside vendors for large scale projects such as expansions, renovations, system-wide medical equipment rollouts and/or software upgrades, advocating the hospital's needs.

• Provides in-service training for physicians, nurses, Biomedical department staff and other contract personnel in the proper and safe operation of medical equipment and emerging technologies and effective use of current systems. May be assigned responsibility to represent Biomedical Engineering department on hospital committees and/or leadership meetings.

• Serves as consultant to biomedical technicians on large scale projects, patient safety incidents and coordinating maintenance training. coordinate training for staff and technicians. Conducts self in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. Drives initiatives towards improvement of department scores for employee engagement, i.e., peer-to-peer accountability.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Coordinates installation and testing of new or upgrades of patient care equipment and scientific instrumentation systems including necessary site preparation, evaluation of the need for spare parts and supplies, coordination of the installation, definition of requirements for maintenance support, and development of maintenance procedures. Oversees implementation of medical equipment interfaces to other hospital devices.

• Ensures timely dispatch closure for all installations, field modifications and upgrades. Assists with technician service calls and serves as an escalation point of contact.

• Troubleshoots, maintains, and repairs assigned patient medical equipment as per manufacturer established specifications. Defines and evaluates technical problems and develops possible solutions.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Accepts responsibility for accreditation readiness for the Biomedical Engineering program and ensures positive outcomes. Assists in development of internal policies and guidelines for standardization across the hospital system.

• Leads/participates in incident investigations involving medical equipment. Investigates accident hazards, and potential hazards to patient or personnel safety. Participates in root cause analysis and other meetings as well as coordinating chain of custody of equipment. Investigates all medical equipment recalls and formulates a plan to take required actions as needed. Reports any unsafe practices of situations with potential for patient or personnel harm to department management.

• Collaborates with vendor and performs pre-purchase evaluation of clinical equipment and accessories to assure compliance with the safety, network security and efficacy requirements.

• Participates in continuous improvement activities by identifying and appropriately escalating process and product quality gaps, providing solutions when possible. Generates reports for safe equipment management and quality improvement.

• Ensures test equipment compliance that is used for technician maintenance activities and identifies new technologies. Assists in monitoring compliance with equipment planned maintenance schedules. Keeps an inventory of assigned tools and test equipment program.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Participates in analysis/Analyzes of future cost effectiveness by using trend data to predict total cost of service including labor and parts. Benchmarks key metrics and directs the collection of data to demonstrate value. Uses data from Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to identify cost saving opportunity through changes in maintenance strategy or replacement of equipment and systems.

• Approves all medical equipment purchases system wide. Evaluates alternative products and purchase options when necessary. Consults with various stakeholders to evaluate needs, desires, projections, costs, and technical considerations for current and future needs and recommend optimum equipment utilization.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Evaluates and recommends new ideas and technology that improve medical equipment quality, safety, and service. Makes and evaluates recommendations of others for modification to patient care equipment to improve its safety or efficacy.

• Establishes rapport with other hospitals through biomedical network connections to keep abreast with best practices of the industry. Seeks opportunities to identify self-development needs and takes appropriate action. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering, Clinical Engineering, or related field

• Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering or related field preferred

WORK EXPERIENCE

• One year of experience in a healthcare-related environment

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• N/A

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - PREFERRED

• CCE - Certified Clinical Engineer (HTCC) OR
• Clinical Healthcare Technology Management (CHTM) certification

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

• Applies engineering principles and experience in evaluation of new technologies and services

• Maintains current knowledge of regulations, laws, and standards which apply to medical instrumentation

• Demonstrates high service standards, such as responding in a timely manner to customer requests, and identifying and anticipating customer requirements, expectations, and needs

• ability to energize, develop, and build rapport at all levels within the organization

• Knowledgeable of and ensures compliance with all hospital, biomedical service organization policies and procedures, applicable laws, and regulations as they apply to this position

• Understands ISO/DNV principles and performs audits of hospital processes

• Ability to multi-task and manage competing priorities

• Effective knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite

• Effective knowledge of DNV, FDA, and CAP standards and practices

• Skilled in using computerized Medical Equipment Management System preferred

• Effective Knowledge of AAMI, NFPA, ECRI, and AHA standards and practices preferred

• Training in ISO 9001:2015 auditor or lead auditor preferred

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs Yes
• Business professional Yes
• Other (department approved) No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* Yes

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area Yes

Since its founding in 1919, Houston Methodist Hospital has earned worldwide recognition. Houston Methodist Hospital is affiliated with the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, one of the nation's leading centers for medical education and research.  In 2020, U.S. News & World Report named Houston Methodist Hospital to its top ranked Honor Roll for the fourth time and second consecutive year. 2020 also marked the ninth year in a row Houston Methodist Hospital has been named the No. 1 hospital in Texas. Houston Methodist Hospital directs millions of research dollars into patient care and offers the latest innovations in medical, surgical and diagnostic techniques. With 952 operating beds, 85 operating rooms and over 8,000 employees, Houston Methodist offers complete care for patients from around the world.

 

The same high-quality care for which Houston Methodist is known is available at several Emergency Care Centers in Houston and the surrounding areas.  These Emergency Care Centers house exam rooms, full digital radiography suite, low radiation dose 16-slice CT scan, ultrasound and a full on-site stat chemistry lab.