What is a Med Tek doing in an O.R.?

Most would probably answer "STAT extraction". Perhaps a possible stat blood transfusion or maybe a stat blood exam such as cbc. But what if I told you that this Med Tek does not work in a lab? This Med tek works inside the operating room. To be exact, this Med Tek works in a cardiovascular operating room. If you were a Med Tek who is working inside an operating room, you would probably tell yourself "What the hell am I doing here?". And those were the exact words I told myself.

To be quite humble and honest, I do not know anything about the operating room. From the basic equipments and supplies to as simple as proper handwashing. I know how to wash my hands (DOH Recommended Proper Handwashing Technique) but it is a bit different from how they do it in the OR. The aseptic techniques I learned from microbiology are also different. In short, I have no idea on what's going on. But as I have been saying throughout my blog, the adaptability of a Med Tek just kicks in. This med tek skill is just handy. Before I go out of topic, I will answer the question at hand: "What is a Med Tek doing in an OR?"

The answer is simple. The Med Tek is working there as a clinical perfusionist. In other countries, there is a specific course, or a degree perhaps, that is offered to be able to become a clinical perfusionist. I have mentioned this job on my recent posts: Job Hunting and Transition. Here in the Philippines, medical technology graduates are trained to become perfusionists. It takes about 6 months of training and study to become certified (based on the training offered at the Philippine Heart Center). But according to seasoned perfusionists themselves, it takes more than a year or so before a heart surgeon and an anesthesiologist give their full confidence on a new perfusionist. Trainings are very extensive. You have to get familiar with all the medicine and drugs. You have to be knowledgeable on the anatomy and physiology of the heart. And as always, normal values for blood gases, blood chemistry, hematocrit, hemoglobin and blood pressure. There is a lot to memorize. And of course the heart-lung machine itself. You have to know how it works.

Coming from a laboratory background, everything is just overwhelming. Especially knowing that your intervention is very direct to the patient. When you release a urinalysis result, you won't worry on what meds or antibiotics you have to give the patient. During perfusion, you are in charge of the patient's meds, his/her heart and lungs function, his/her blood gases, in short, the patient's life.

I wouldn't know much since I'm kinda the new guy but I have to say that this new found job has bigger responsibilities. Let me rephrase that because I think that all Med Teks have big responsibilities. The responsibility is direct and the outcome is more instantaneous. I think that is better. A Med Tek in an OR might not be the same as a Med Tek in a laboratory. But it's still the same. Both has the responsibility as a health professional, both should be dedicated to the preservation of life and both are in service of health for patients. I maybe new to this job and may not be at my comfort zone as in the lab, but I would certainly show my new colleagues that a Med Tek in an OR is as good as a Med Tek in the lab.




Tell your friends about medtek101.blogspot.com! God bless!

Like me on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/MedTek101

Follow me on twitter @BuhayMedTek



Want to be a millionaire in 10-20 years? Get and Read this FREE ebook  by following this link... http://bosanchezmembers.com/amember/go.php?r=15799