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Education and Training for Rehabilitation Engineers - UPDATE

Simon FieldenDirector, Health Design & Technology Institute

24th January 20011

What do REs do ?

People

work with other practitioners to ensure the best client outcome

assess client needs from a systematic engineering culture

apply biomechanical principles to wheelchair and seating needs

Systems

understand and apply the Medical Devices Regulations

knows how to assess and manage risk of provision, development and use

of AT

understand and apply quality assurance in a service

knows what to do if the equipments stops working/ breaks/ there is an

incident

What do REs do ?

Equipment

when you cannot buy it they can get it made, or modified

can use the pressure monitor to get reliable results AND understand the

results

when you can buy buts its complicated they get it working

makes sure all the equipment works

knows what you can buy and how good it is

What do REs do ?

Levels of RE

Clinical Scientist

Clinical Technologist

(RE)

Assistant Practitioner

Technician.......

workshop

Client interaction.......possibly an AP RE rather than an OT

technician ?????

Complex

Routine, low risk

HPC MSc

Voluntary Register of Clinical Technologists BSc(for now...)

FD

If you want to take on an RE

• You need one right now

Plan for this eventuality 2 years ago!

Advertise and hope to attract an RE who is on the VRCT

Contract with a provider of RE services

If you want to take on an RE

• If you can wait,,,,,,

If you are an accredited IPEM training centre, employ an

engineering graduate and send them on the 18 months

grad dip

If not, join forces with an accredited IPEM training centre,

employ a graduate and send them on the 18 month grad dip

From summer 2012 take a year 4 BSc RE Student from

Coventry University on a 1 year placement – try before

you buy (only 7 students)

If you want to take on an RE

• If you can wait even longer

From summer 2013 and 2014 take a year 4 BSc RE Student

from Coventry University on a 1 year placement – try

before you buy ( 20 students in each year)

From summer 2013 – recruit a RE graduate from Coventry

University

Coventry University RE Course Developments

• Modernising Scientific Careers

Introducing some standardisation for healthcare science (51

professions!)

3 year vocational degrees – for Coventry University from 2013...possibly

Still uncertainty about fast track courses for engineering graduates

• Expand RE role into telecare and telehealth

• Thinking about associate and assistant RE courses....

• If we cannot recruit sufficient numbers the course will stop

Summary

• Services should comply with VRCT requirements to protect their

organisations and their staff

• The Grad Dip can be used to get staff quickly to the VRCT level

• The BSc will provide a future pool of REs to recruit from

• HDTI with WMRC and WMWMF will be offering CPD/short course

opportunities for REs and Therapists in the near future...to be

announced at PMG NTE