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In This Issue:
Jacinta Telesford-Ximba, RN, right, describes the functions of the bedside monitor to new technician Roberto Medina.
Standing before a telemetry monitor experiencing interference, Biomedical Engineering Technician Roberto Medina needed to determine whether a device or clinical problem was to blame for preventing the machine from showing a clear picture of a patient’s heart activity.
“His first step should be to examine the heart monitor for broken or worn cables or any issue with the device itself,” said Cheavor Roberts, senior biomedical engineering technician, who watched from behind a mirrored glass window with department leaders and senior employees as Medina found the answer: a loose cable.
The exercise was part of new simulation training that enables technicians like Medina to practice solving issues before facing them in a patient’s room. In the Nursing Simulation Center, new and experienced technicians can practice these scenarios in a realistic patient room setting.
“We see great potential for this type of training,” said L. Michael Fraai, director of Biomedical Engineering, who led a committee within the department to bring this training to life. “We’re constantly learning from each other, and preparing for every kind of scenario helps us service the BWH community even better.”
Biomedical Engineering is responsible for approximately 22,000 patient care devices, including electrocardiogram machines, infusion pumps, monitors and anesthesia machines, throughout the hospital and distributed campus locations, including the newly opened Brigham and Women’s/Mass General Health Care Center at Foxborough.
“These exercises increase our department’s customer service, communication and teamwork,” said Jacinta Telesford-Ximba, RN, the department’s bedside technology specialist. “This training is important for each technician since one is always available to respond to any malfunctions 24 hours a day.”
By the end of the year, the department expects to run each of its 36 employees through this training and combine it with other existing training. “The training has been well received and our department continues to embrace ways to improve our service,” said Telesford-Ximba.