“A noble profession” that keeps everything on track

The Biomedical Engineering team at Latrobe Regional Health looks after close to 6000 pieces of equipment at LRH and a further 2000 or so at other healthcare sites across Central Gippsland.

“If it has a medical function, we look after it,” LRH Biomedical Engineering Manager, Dennis Seymour said.

The list of equipment the team looks after includes everything from air mattresses to anesthetics and blood pressure monitors to cribs for premature newborns.

The team of five biomedical engineers can be called on to fix a device next to a patient’s bed or in surgical theatre or tinker with it in their workshop which to the outsider might look disorganised but everything is in exactly the right place.

“It’s a noble profession,” Biomedical Engineer Atif Bhatti says.

“We are working on machines that make a patient’s stay better, allow the nurses and doctors to do their work and for the patient to get better and go home. It’s a great job and a rewarding one.”

The team travels across the region ensuring equipment is performing correctly at Central Gippsland Health (Sale), Yarram, Foster, Maffra and Heyfield hospitals as well as Maryvale Private Hospital and community centres in Rosedale and Loch Sport.

Like all areas of modern life, improved technology can also bring its challenges.

An example can be seen in the shape of a modern treatment chair that provides a range of benefits for patients and those treating them and can be managed remotely via an app.

“It’s an example of the way lots of things are connected these days,” Dennis said.

“At its most basic it’s just a chair, but the connection via the app allows it to be controlled remotely as well as any faults diagnosed and remedied remotely too. Turning up to fix it with just a screwdriver and a wrench won’t get the job done these days. There is a level of complexity that requires a deeper understanding of how things work.”

The team is made up of Electrical and Biomedical Engineers with university-level qualifications and ongoing training to stay on top of developments and new equipment.

As well as the maintenance and repairs there is also a more personal side to the work the team carries out.

“Sometimes when you are on a ward a patient will appreciate a few minutes to chat. It might be about the work we are doing, the weather, anything really. But it can be nice to share a bit of time. Hospital isn’t the most exciting place to be so if we can make sure the equipment is working and help someone’s day pass a bit more pleasantly, that’s ok,” Biomedical Engineer Abhishek Bhardwaj said.

Pictured L-R: Abhi Bhardwaj Biomedical Engineer Dennis Seymour Biomed Manager Aaron Edwards Senior Biomed Engineer