Senior Biomedical Technologist

Introduction

Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi is a private not-for-profit teaching hospital that provides tertiary and secondary level healthcare services. It is the first hospital in East Africa to be accredited by the Joint Commission International from the USA. The University Hospital has been providing high quality care for the people of East Africa and beyond for over 60 years.

The incumbent will assist the Manager, Biomedical Engineering with all aspects of program management, including work history data analysis, staffing allocations, attending to unscheduled maintenance, developing preventive maintenance schedules and guidelines, budget control, equipment acquisition planning, installation and testing, outside vendor management, provision of Biomedical Engineering services to support AKUH patient diagnosis and treatment, as well as ensuring all program components support Joint Commission and various local codes that relate to electrical and mechanical equipment safety..

Responsibilities:

·Provide technical support for clinical equipment throughout the AKUHN healthcare system as assigned, including scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, maintaining parts inventories, performing rounds on clinical (patient care) units to verify proper equipment use and operation, and participating in on-call rotation.

·Coordinate and/ or participate in requests for special projects, such as new equipment acquisition purchase and installation planning, acceptance testing, renovations, equipment upgrades, and equipment disposal.

·Approve new biomedical equipment by conducting self-tests, ensuring adherence to codes and making modifications when necessary.

·Develop and monitor compliance with equipment Preventive Maintenance (PPM) schedules and guidelines, as well as performing incident investigation and equipment performance analysis as required.

·Develop and review emergency and safety plans related to use and operation of critical patient care equipment.

·Assist with and evaluate third party repairs.

·Ensure proper care of spares, tools and test equipment to ensure calibration.

·Liaison with user and monitor vendor’s performance during post warranty period as per the contract agreement.

·Develop patient care equipment safety and device specific in-service programs for presentation to the clinical staff throughout all locations and perform in service education to patient care equipment users as needed.

·Supervise and participate in in-service training of new Biomedical Technicians and clinical staff concerning the use and operation of patient care equipment.

·Enhance and maintain technical knowledge of current standards, codes and procedures regarding safe and effective use of medical equipment through formal instruction.

·Participate in the development of department and system wide quality assurance indices or continuous quality improvement initiatives related to proper use and maintenance / repair of patient care equipment, as well as submitting reports using the computerized maintenance management software applications and other standard office software applications.

·Review outcome of Preventive Maintenance actions and make recommendations to Department Manager concerning improvements.

·Maintain biomedical equipment performance supplies inventory by checking stock; anticipating needs; placing and expediting orders as well as verifying receipts.

·Ensure maximum percentage uptime on medical equipment is achieved for safe and optimum use within all Clinical Departments.

·Maintain a safe and healthy working environment.

·Ensure hospital staff are handling and using the medical equipment appropriately and confidently.

·Ensure keeping of accurate hazardous and medical waste logs, stocking supplies, running maintenance tests, analyzing water systems, analyzing different reports, as well as distributing supplies.

·Perform any other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the supervisor or designee.

Requirements:

·Minimum of Diploma in Biomedical Engineering or its equivalent from a reputable institution, with basic knowledge in computer software packages.

·Minimum grade of B+ in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education.

·Must be registered with Association of Medical Engineers of Kenya (AMEK).

·At least 5 years of working experience (Co-op time applicable), performing troubleshooting and planned maintenance on electronic, electromechanical medical equipment following current standards, code, and procedures to ensure safe and effective operation of those devices.

·Must have knowledge of anatomy, physiology, electro-mechanical and electronic fundamentals, medical equipment function and operation, safety in healthcare facilities, and medical equipment troubleshooting.

·Advanced experience in interpreting schematic diagrams to perform effective repair and planned maintenance on basic biomedical or electronic equipment.

·Interpersonal skills necessary to work effectively with clinical staff, vendors and fellow employees.

·Analytical skills to determine the cause of equipment failure or malfunction and to repair it to ensure proper functioning.

·Must possess excellent oral and written communication skills, with ability to write reports and make presentations on operational and technical issues, as well as run diagnostic programs.

·Knowledge of the application and repair of computers and servers and how they interface with medical equipment.

·Knowledge of colour code conventions used in component and wiring marking.

·Ability to lift medium weight equipment, as well as to walk, kneel, bend, and reach while installing and repairing equipment.