TechNation | Community

I found the article “Biomeds Give Back” in the January 2012 edition of TechNation of great interest. I would like to volunteer in a way to jump-start my Biomedical development.I am sure that some of you have knowledge and experience that could help me to make good use of my resources and avoid being scammed. I do not wish to end up wasting my time and money to no purpose. What path would you suggest for me?
Here is a little on my background: I am 31 years old. I worked part time and gained experience working using and repairing: computers, electronics, heavy equipment and LASERs, and paid for my Associate in Applied Science in Electronics Technology graduating with honors in June of 2005. I went to South Africa on a mission trip for about a month in 2008, where I spent time talking to the youth on AIDS prevention. I then went back to part time work and school achieving my AAS in Biomedical Engineering Technology, with all honors, in June 2011. As part of my Biomedical classes and 400 hours of internship at a hospital, I have learned skills in Preventive Maintenance (PMs) and repairs on: Defibrillators, ESUs, PCAs, SCDs, hand-held bar-code scanners, infusion pumps, telemetry systems, a variety of vital sign monitors and anesthesia machines, as well as some familiarity with radiographic/fluoroscopic imaging systems. I live in southwest Washington in the Portland/Vancouver area, but I’m willing to travel wherever necessary to further my experience.

Tristan:
I’m delighted that you were stimulated by the article about Biomeds giving back. This is part of what humanity and caring are about. Biomeds are of no exception to many professional communities, when it comes to volunteering and helping those in need – they are there. Biomeds responded also during disasters like those in Texas, Missouri, Haiti, and Japan. There are many ways one can volunteer; lend skills, experience, time, money, networking & connections, parts, test equipment or medical instruments. Regardless of what we choose to do, we must carry the flag of safety and integrity. This is to say that we follow Equipment donation guidelines (developed by ACCE and revised recently by The World Health Organization) that facilitate good transaction of equipment and clear division of responsibilities for safe equipment functionality and for the longest duration possible. Including in the guidance are the provisions of documentation (manuals), training, and spare parts (this is by no means an exhaustive list). Please look at WHO website for more complete information and for the guide.
Thank you for volunteering.

Tristan- I try to get over there every month for a few hours. That was on Fridays, but the supervisor is now there Monday – Thursday, so I need to change days for visits. I can get in touch with them and see if they would mind having you join me next time so you can see what is involved.

Yadin, are these the guidelines you are referring to: http://www.who.int/hac/techguidance/pht/1_equipment%20donationbuletin82WHO.pdf

It maybe old new to many of you but I found some videos on the subject:

WHO: The power and potential of medical devices
http://youtu.be/92wBe8eTKBY

MediSend videos
http://www.medisend.org/videos.html

MediSend Mission
http://youtu.be/GXXQK1eypeQ