5 Traits of the Best Medical Equipment Repair Technicians

The medical care industry grows more technologically advanced every year, and that means more (and more complex!) machines in our hospitals and other care centers. For the right type of person, there are incredible opportunities to save lives by keeping these machines up and running for whenever an emergency calls. 

This work is not for everyone though; it takes a special mix of technological skill and compassion to succeed as a medical equipment repair technician. If you love working with your hands, solving problems, and most of all, caring for those in need, this field may be for you. 

1. Medical Equipment Repair Techs are Technology Lovers

Medical equipment is not like tinkering with glitchy appliances. These complex devices incorporate both precise machinery and detailed computer programming, so if you love solving mechanical and software problems, this field could be for you. You will need to use dedicated computers to help diagnose problems, but you'll also need to be comfortable diving into the nuts and bolts. The best technicians use both mechanical skills and software know-how to get the job done. 

2. Medical Equipment Repair Techs are Detail Oriented

Medical equipment does work that human beings often cannot do, such as magnify test samples thousands of times, or process x-rays into visible images. This means that when a machine breaks down (or even just slows down), the entire medical process slows down or stops along with it. The technician's job isn't just to get it right, it is to get it right the first time. This means complex diagnostic and repair processes, where every step counts. A good technician identifies the right step in a repair early, but also remembers to check their work for any anomalies. A machine that works can mean a life that's been saved, so your ability to notice even small out of place details can make all the difference. 

3. Medical Equipment Repair Techs are Problem Solvers

Technicians are often called in when something mysterious has gone wrong. If it was an easy problem, odds are someone else would have looked into it. You're there when they need an expert, but that means you have to love being that expert. Problem equipment often shows disparate symptoms, and you need to enjoy putting various symptoms together and seeing things that others don't. Every problem is a puzzle, and you'll need detailed thinking to creatively identify and solve problems.  

4. Medical Equipment Repair Techs are Reliable

In the medical world, being on time and being late can spell the difference between life and death. The best medical equipment repair technicians are true to their word every time. Loving to solve problems is a great start, knowing what to do and being good with your hands is necessary, but a late arrival at a job may come at a very real cost. When lives are on the line, even people who don't interact directly with the patients are of critical importance. People will rely on you, and you need to be focused on never letting them down.

5. Medical Equipment Repair Techs Love People

Finally, like any job, there will be good days, but there will also rough days. You will sometimes be in high stress environments, and your successes and challenges will be right in front of your eyes. In the medical field, it is the human beings at the other end of the technology that help get you through the hard days. It is knowing that someone's mother or father learned about a life threatening condition early, because you stayed late to look at one more machine. If you can visualize the human being benefiting from your work, that love will push you to go the extra mile, and maybe save an extra life. 

Medical Equipment Repair Training is a Call Away

If you feel like these traits describe you—if you’re a detailed problem-solver and a reliable people lover—then pursuing a degree as a medical repair technician could be a great decision. Take your ability to understand technology and engineering and use it to save lives—contact ECPI University about earning an Associate of Science degree in Electronics Engineering Technology with a concentration in Medical Imaging Equipment Technology. It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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