Paper Authors

Abstract

NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract

Offering a Specialty of Electrical Engineering Technology to Increase Enrollments and Meet Employer Demands: Technology Used in the Delivery of Health Care

Abstract

Electrical Engineering Technology programs can prepare graduates to support the vast array of medical technology deeply connected to the delivery of patient care. Hospitals and medical equipment manufacturers are clamoring for graduates who have combined the practical, technical training a technology program already provides with the vocabulary, regulations and technology specific to the clinical environment. Once an electrical engineering technology program understands the skills requested by employers, faculty can investigate sources of instruction and plan topic coverage. Program outcomes for this specialty are identified. These are tailored to the health care field (with relation to ABET a-k) and will mesh with program outcomes typically in place for existing electrical engineering technology programs. In addition, techniques to offer specialized instruction and several resources to locate potential industry partners will be identified. Examples are provided of two institutions who have successfully expanded their electrical engineering technology programs into this arena are explored as potential models for successful course offerings.

Introduction

“Health care jobs are the result of one of the largest industries in the country, with more than 11 million healthcare jobs and medical jobs…Medical employment and health care employment will account for about 13 percent of all wage and salary positions created between 2000 and 2010. Medical employment and healthcare employment account for 9 out of 20 occupations projected to grow most quickly.”1 With strong advancement, job growth and likelihood of stability, health care is a career area which has found increased focus of educational institutions.

Headlines in a recent healthcare publication announced: “Biomed Shortage Persists, Takes Toll on Facilities.”2 This headline identifies the shortage in “biomeds.” This career has many titles but is generally best aligned in the educational environment with Biomedical Engineering Technology programs. However, only a handful of schools across the country currently offer coursework in this specialty. This problem, coupled with the needs of an estimated 2,000 hospitals and outside service organizations, encourages institutions to explore unique educational partnerships. With creative efforts, electrical engineering technology departments have the potential to generate graduates who easily find positions supporting medical technology after graduation. In addition, these students will boost enrollments in existing electrical engineering technology classes.

Educational Outcomes

The EET specialization which serves medical technology has as its backbone electrical engineering fundamentals such as ac and dc circuits, devices, digital electronics, microprocessors and fundamental pc systems and networking. Using these courses already well established can

• Citation

• Format
  • APA
  • APA - LaTeX bibitem
  • MLA
  • MLA - LaTeX bibitem
  • Bibtex
  • EndNote - RIS

Christe, B. (2006, June), Offering A Specialty Of Electrical Engineering Technology To Increase Enrollments And Meet Employer Demands: Technology Used In The Delivery Of Health Care Paper presented at 2006 Annual Conference & Exposition, Chicago, Illinois. 10.18260/1-2--735