Critical Care Technologist

University Hospitals Of Leicester Nhs Trust; Leicester; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The Critical Care environment at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust requires a skilled Electro-medical Technician to provide specialist technical knowledge, carry out maintenance, calibration and quality assurance of complex medical devices across the CICU, Children’s Hospital, Emergency Department and other units.

Training staff, advising on equipment procurement, fault-finding, preventative maintenance, safety checks and liaison with clinical, technical and manufacturing colleagues

Qualifications

• Specialist technical knowledge in critical care technology.
• Maintenance, calibration and quality assurance of medical devices.
• Training of nursing and medical staff on equipment usage.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical advice to clinical teams and investigators.
• Carry out scheduled maintenance, servicing, repair and calibration of medical equipment.
• Troubleshoot complex faults and perform advanced fault finding with precision tools and metering equipment.
• Liaise with clinical, technical, managerial and manufacturing staff to ensure smooth operation of equipment.
• Maintain safety checks, manage stocks and assist in equipment procurement and evaluation.

Job description

The Critical Care environment is a highly concentrated area of sophisticated electro-medical equipment which monitors patients' vital signs, analyses respiratory and metabolic activity and supports respiratory and renal functions. Duties of the Critical Care Technologist include dealing with technical problems as they arise, as well as routine maintenance, calibration and quality assurance of equipment. The post is to provide specialist technical knowledge in the area of Critical care technology to assist in the smooth running of the CICU critical care area, the wider Children's Hospital, Children's Emergency Department and support Adult, Cardiac PICU and Neonatal ICU and Theatres and wards at all UHL sites in the provision of medical devices. A wide range of complex diagnostic, therapeutic and analytical equipment is managed to ensure equipment operates effectively and safely.

• Training on equipment is given to nursing and medical staff.
• Advice is provided and demonstrations organised during equipment procurement.
• To have responsibility for carrying out scheduled maintenance, servicing, repair and calibration on a wide range of medical equipment.
• Work to high standards of safety and accountability.
• Liaise very closely with clinical, technical, managerial and manufacturing staff to ensure the smooth running of equipment on the units.
• Actively contribute to the improvement of services and the quality of provision to meet the needs of service users, patients and colleagues.
• Ensure medical devices required by clinical teams are available when required and performs as per manufacturer's literature
• Undertake advanced fault-finding utilising precision tools and metering equipment. Apply suitable fault-finding techniques to diagnose problems, including those beyond the scope of manufacturer supplied information. Report novel fault conditions to manufacturers. Exercise judgement to determine the causes of faults in devices with multiple complex and inter-related systems (e.g. electronic, computer and mechanical systems), which may be due to user error, equipment failure or environmental issues.
• Train staff in the safe and effective use of medical devices
• Troubleshoot at bedside to help patient-staff-medical device interaction be as good as possible
• Rectify complex equipment faults. Where necessary involve the Electro-medical Servicing Section.
• Check that equipment performs to manufacturer's specification.
• Carry out daily, weekly and monthly maintenance and calibration procedures.
• Manage the quality control for various Point of Care equipment used within Critical Care Units liaising with Pathology Department as necessary.
• Carry out electrical, mechanical and functional safety checks.
• Using technical and clinical experience, and through regular communication with the nursing and medical staff, identify potentially hazardous symptoms and faults on the critical care units.
• Liaise with clinical staff to plan planned preventative maintenance. Adjust schedules in response to short-term clinical needs.
• Advise on equipment specification, evaluation and selection.
• Be involved in equipment procurement procedure by advising on specification and organising demonstrations to aid evaluation and selection.
• In conjunction with nursing, medical and technical/scientific staff, identify and implement improvements to equipment/equipment usage/procedures and practices includingdesigning and writing equipment competencies.
• Be familiar with the roles of the Specialist Medical Physics Technicians on other Critical Care Units in order to provide cover and support.
• Work carried out will comply with set procedures and conform to the appropriate quality standards.
• Keep relevant scientific and technical records of work performed. In particular ensure that computerised equipment management systems are kept up to date.
• Liaise with manufacturers to obtain information and provide feedback on equipment performance.
• Monitor stocks of appropriate consumables, components and spares, reordering where necessary to keep an adequate stock. Liaise closely with Critical care senior staff to ensure ITU stock levels are maintained.
• Take responsibility for all tools and equipment within the Postholder's care. Ensure workshop facilities are kept clear and tidy and that all equipment is maintained to acceptable standards.
• Provide technical advice to medical and other staff groups as appropriate.
• Provide technical expertise and assistance to other functions within the Department as appropriate.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with external partners eg off site sterilising department,
• Respond to field safety notices as necessary keeping all staff informed of health and safety MDA field safety notices
• Liaise with manufacturers and external companies to ensure equipment is fit for purpose.
• Draw up and ensure continued provision of external contracts for servicing equipment. Liaising with finance department as required and keeping accurate records
• Clean and decontaminate contaminated equipment. Information must be sought as to the nature of contamination and the associated risks before carrying this action out.
• Manage own day-to-day workload and the workload of others with only minimal direction by line manager. Maintain high quality customer services in the absence of senior staff.

Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030). We have four primary goals:

• high-quality care for all,
• being a great place to work,
• partnerships for impact,
• research and education excellence

And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities. Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:

• we are compassionate,
• we are proud,
• we are inclusive, and
• we are one team

This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.

About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust: https://www.uhleicester.nhs.uk