Engineering Technology Training In Saudi Arabia: Quality Training Challenges And Labor Market Needs

Biomedical engineering developed in health care facilities around the world over the last four decades of the twentieth century. There was widespread recognition in professional and government circles of the technological sudden increase that had affected society in general and health care in particular. Biomedical engineering applied with an early large emphasis on the maintenance, electrical safety, and electronics aspects of medical equipment. This encouraged the consideration of broader safety aspects in health care. Biomedical Engineering Professionals who divides into two main categories: the Clinical Engineers (CE) or Biomedical Engineers and the Biomedical Engineering (Equipment) Technicians (BMET) required a special training to be qualified to be very trusted technicians. In Saudi Arabia, as a developed country, the Government spends billions dollars annually expenditure on the health sector. The Ministry of Health has finalized plans to establish new hospitals and renovate and expand 324 existing hospitals and 1750 primary health care centers. Long time ago, the health care facilities and medical companies were counting on the overseas professionals in the field of biomedical equipment marketing, installation, training, and maintenance. As far as twenty years ago, there were no Saudi professionals in the field of biomedical engineering/technology. Biomedical engineering introduced as a new field of study at King Abdul Aziz University ( KAAU), Jeddah in 1982, and King Saud University (KSU); Riyadh started in 1986. The General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training (GOTEVOT) , who founded in 1980 , set of laws require that the Organization should execute all programs related to technical education in various fields like industry, agriculture and commerce as well as all related to vocational training like in-service training in addition to conducting researchers and studies for upgrading national manpower performance and productivity efficiency. In advance to open the new major, GOTEVOT had established the National Occupational Skill Standards for medical instrumentation (Biomedical) technician and developing a curriculum called " Developing A CurriculUMDACUM” with participating of Biomedical technicians who were working in local biomedical engineering departments in local hospitals to define the job duties and the skills needed for these duties and Biomedical Technology Program started last year,2006, under Electronics technology department There are two main problems that biomedical engineering departments in Saudi Arabia face. First, there is a lack of number of Biomedical Engineers and Biomedical Technicians. Second, the selection of medical equipments, their installation, safe operation, and maintenance which require extra care because of their high cost, and delicate and specialized nature. Currently, these functions are handled by contractors, local vendors, international companies, and/or left to unqualified hands P ge 12315.2 The aim of this study is to understand the situation of Saudi Biomedical Engineering Departments, support and encourage Biomedical Engineering Departments to involve in repairing and maintaining medical equipment in the health care facilities. It is the first step for those entering biomedical professional field. This research paper gives a general overview on the biomedical engineering departments through 23 questionnaires were collected all over the country to identify the structure, personnel, responsibilities and resources of the Biomedical departments and training programs in Saudi Arabia that been designed to meet the Labor Market Needs. Biomedical Engineering Overview: Before going to discuss what is now referred to as Biomedical engineering ,it is better to begin with considering first the development of biomedical engineering and, in turn, Biomedical engineering. In the past engineering was defined as the facility to express the sources of power in nature for man’s use and convenience. Today, modern engineering involves the application of scientific techniques, theories, and technology for the solution of social needs. That includes all engineers, and biomedical engineers in particular must deal with. Biomedical Engineering is a field where concepts from Engineering, Mathematics, Computation, Physics and Chemistry are used to solve problems in Biology and Medicine. Biomedical Engineering can be divided into four sub-areas: 1Bioengineering focuses on pure research; for example, the study of the behavior of neurons and cardiac cells with the aid of mathematical models and simulations; 2Medical Engineering is directed to the study, design and construction of instrumentation (mainly electronic), sensors, and prosthesis for the medical field; 3Clinical or Hospital Engineering focuses in certification and testing of medical equipments; and hospital activities, such as design, adequacy and execution of installations, consulting for acquisition of equipments, training of maintenance teams; 4 Rehabilitation Engineering aims the development of electronic and mechanical systems for the improvement of the quality of life of physically challenged people. The American College of Clinical Engineering (ACCE), funded in 1991, ACCE is committed to enhancing the profession of clinical engineering. With members in the United States and abroad, the ACCE is the only internationally recognized professional society for clinical engineers, a Clinical (biomedical) Engineering is the field of engineering that supports and advances patient care by applying engineering and management skills to healthcare technology. (ACCE definition-1992) As Biomedical engineering established in 1959 by a group of medical engineers, physicists and physicians met at the 2nd International Conference of Medical and Biological Engineering, in the UNESCO Building, Paris, France, to create an organization entitled International Federation for Medical Electronics and Biological Engineering. At that time there were few national biomedical engineering societies and workers in the discipline joined as Associates of the Federation. Later, as national societies were formed, these societies became affiliates of the Federation. Biomedical engineering developed in health care facilities around the world over the last four decades of the twentieth century. There was widespread recognition in professional and P ge 12315.3 government circles of the technological explosion that had affected society in general and health care in particular. A series of workshops held in 1972 provided a forum for the discussion of the need for an engineering approach to effect some control on this technology. Three of the factors that can be cited as having had a great influence on the way in which Biomedical engineering has developed in the hospital: 1. The rapid influx of technology and its resulting instrumentation into the hospital primarily in the1960s and 1970s 2. The recognition of an electrical safety issue associated with the increase in biomedical instrumentation coming in contact with the patient 3. The move to develop a certification process for engineers in hospital clinical settings. Certification influenced development of Biomedical engineering in three ways. 1It established and crystallized the name of the field as Biomedical engineering. 2It provided some assurance of the competency of Biomedical engineering practitioners to the health care facilities where they practiced. 3It tended to result in biomedical engineers defining themselves in terms of the certification process. The examination process in particular, which in the U.S. boards of examiners was heavily oriented toward electronics, had an effect on both the type of engineering people who went into the field and the educational programs that provided the training. The wide range of management and broad health care issues identified by such people as Rushmer and Caceres tended not to have as heavy an emphasis. The Role of Biomedical Engineering This previous background provides a basis for the understanding of the role Biomedical engineering occupies in health care today. Biomedical engineering developed with an early large emphasis on the maintenance, electrical safety, and electronics aspects of medical equipment. This encouraged the consideration of broader safety aspects in health care. Biomedical engineer must provide education for nursing, medical, and paramedical staff to facilitate their understanding of present technology and future trends. In consultation with medical and administrative staff, he or she must ensure that equipment purchases and hospital designs and systems are optimal and that technology acquisitions are appropriate; he or she must engage in applied research and development at all levels to improve patient care and make provisions for the safe and effective use of technology. Responsibilities of Biomedical Engineering Department: According to the previous descriptive of the role of Biomedical engineering, the major responsibilities for the Biomedical engineering department are: AEducation Prime responsibility for making provisions for training and education associated with technology and instrumentation used in the hospital 1Education of Biomedical engineering staff 2Education of health care facility staff BClinical Research/Development: This include : 1Design of new equipment, patient aids, and techniques to aid in patient care 2Assistive devices C. Computing Applications On of the most important function of Biomedical engineering is development and management of hospital and patient information and data-acquisition systems. P ge 12315.4 Certainly the everywhere attendance of computing in all functions of the hospital is well recognized. D. Facility Planning The application and proper use of technology entail the appropriate management of all resources, including equipment, personnel, supplies, and space. It is obviously im