The Role of a Biomedical Scientist - Term Paper Example

Professional and Scientific Role of a Registered Biomedical Scientist within a Healthcare System Biomedical scientists are the learned professionals who carry out various pathological examinations and tests of the varied patient samples including blood, urine, sputum and tissue samples. Thus, these registered biomedical scientists can be referred to as the essential and key performers of a clinical diagnostic or pathology lab or department of a hospital. They offer clinical laboratory services to the patients in assistance with the other healthcare professionals and staff of the hospital. As quoted by Iles, the clinical test reports demanded by a doctor are used to diagnose, monitor and screen the patient’s condition and provide appropriate treatment. Here comes the role of a biomedical scientist. He should be proficient enough to properly collect and examine the sample, carry out the appropriate lab tests and finally prepare and provide accurate reports timely to the consulting doctor. Being a registered biomedical scientist thus involves huge and important responsibility of conducting and supervising the laboratory activities. (Iles & Docherty n.d. p. 370). These vital contributions of the biomedical scientists occur without much direct contact with the patient. But since the job of biomedical scientists “further relates to the diagnosis and treatment of a patient” (Compositions and Methods for Modulating Vascular Development 2009) they should be very well trained and are expected to be extremely motivated to give high level performance always. The training of biomedical scientists is not a onetime activity but a continuous one because it is necessary to keep the self-updated with the advancements and developments in the field of laboratory testing and also require learning the new techniques and equipment’s. Academic and Training Requirements for Being a Registered Biomedical Scientist: Being a biomedical scientist involves an initial learning period where the individual familiarizes self with the varied physiological and pathological aspects of diseases. Here only, he gets introduced to the different diagnostic techniques as well. Further the biomedical scientist needs to specialize. The area of specialization could be hematology, cytology, virology, histopathology, medical microbiology or clinical chemistry depending on individual’s choice and interest. According to Iles and Docherty in the initial stages, a trainee gets exposure to all the areas of laboratory testing and this carves the area for further development. While working as a biomedical scientist, the individual gets to explore his area of interest and can attain further expertise in the same by learning through varied diploma, degree and certificate courses available. Whatever be the interest area, a biomedical scientists is expected know and have complete knowledge about the functionalities, structural organization, SOPs and services of all the sections included in the pathology department of a hospital or clinical laboratory. (Iles & Docherty n.d. p. 342). This knowledge comes handy while deciding and directing the clinical queries to the appropriate section in order to get the right answers (diagnosis).  Role of a biomedical scientist has woven in the healthcare system in very complex but interesting manner. Where earlier the notion was that the biomedical scientists’s work and activity is related to the lab only, the same is not very true. Knowledge of a biomedical scientist might be used by other professionals involved in the healthcare system in the following ways. (Iles & Docherty n.d.). A biomedical scientist need not remain associated with a clinical laboratory or a pathology lab through his life but with time as he gains more knowledge and experience in the field can also choose to be a trainer or educator of the subject or else can also be a part of the representatives and supervisory team of some company manufacturing the lab equipment’s and diagnostic tools. 1. In some cases the biomedical scientist might be consulted (to better understand the patient’s numerical data) in order to get detailed analysis of a report or may be asked to take part in the discussions pertaining certain specific patient cases. 2. Iles has pointed out another important area where biomedical scientists can be of help to the clinicians is the lab audits. Generally it is the senior clinician who is given the responsibility to evaluate the conditions and authenticate the proper functioning of a laboratory. A biomedical scientist as a student learns all aspects of quality control and assurance and as a biomedical science practitioner has better idea about the key laboratory areas which could be checked for quality assurance purposes. This mix of job responsibility and knowledge brings out a perfect interface for the integration of these two separate parts of the healthcare system i.e. the biomedical scientist and the clinicians. (Iles & Docherty n.d. p. 359). 3. Regulatory bodies need to audit the working conditions, equipment and other activities of a private clinical lab or even a hospital’s pathology department before granting the accreditation to it. This includes judging and reviewing all working parameters to be compliant with the set standards and guidelines. This is where biomedical scientists can be of great help. Senior biomedical scientists could also be chosen as a part of the audit team by the regulatory authorities as these who have had experience working in pathology laboratories would have a better idea of the possible areas of breach of regulations and thus would make the review even better and stringent. 4. A biomedical scientist gets an opportunity to study further and attain expertise in any specific area of clinical or pathological examinations as contended by Iles and Docherty. Still this scientist has complete knowledge, understanding and experience working and dealing in all the sections of pathology department and performing and supervising all the activities of varied departments. This kind of knowledge can be integrated and used by other healthcare institutes or communities who would like to set up new clinical labs in an area or some hospitals who would like to re-built their pathology labs. (Iles & Docherty n.d. p. 373). 5. Senior biomedical scientists can also gain a role in the advisory boards of the regulatory bodies. They could also be a part of the continuous development programs arranged by these bodies for the education and welfare of new scientists and trainees. 6. While having expertise in dealing with the varied diagnostic tools, techniques and equipment the learned biomedical scientists are also in demand at the healthcare manufacturer’s end. The MNCs who manufacture diagnostic products need biomedical scientists to guide them into manufacturing products which would be well designed as per the guidelines of the regulatory bodies. This acts as an additional quality control step at the manufacturer’s end and also adds to the benefit of the manufacturer. 7. Apart from being a apart of the research or quality control team, a biomedical scientist could also “look up to being a part of the promotional or marketing team of a diagnostic tool manufacturer” (Prachi 2010). Here the role will not be to sell but to interact with other healthcare providers and explain to them the utilities of their diagnostic equipment and relate to the benefits over the existing technique, if any. All the possible roles of a biomedical scientist explained above emphasise their interaction with other sections, professionals and parts of the healthcare system. This interaction and integration is necessary and useful if brought about properly. This complete network once in place and working aptly could result in an ideal healthcare system. Role of Regulatory and Professional Bodies: As discussed by Pitt and Cunningham, 2009 for all the above, definite academic qualifications and training are necessary. Both of these should be attained from universities or institutes which have gained accreditation for their curriculum from regulatory authorities of the field. These include the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) and Healthcare Professional Council (HPC). This is important as following the above verifies that the pass out of this university are well verse with the standards of proficiency required by a good biomedical scientist. (Pitt et al. n.d.). IBMS is the regulatory body which is responsible setting certain standards to be followed and practiced by all biomedical scientists. Apart from this, the institute also takes responsibility: 1) To further spread the awareness and knowledge about the work and achievements of professional biomedical scientists, among the general public. 2) To address the concerns of biomedical scientists from all over the world and when required reach to and advice the national authorities for the steps which would be helpful in promoting biomedical sciences better and would also benefit the biomedical scientists. 3) In concern of the academic knowledge and training given to the biomedical scientists; the universities and institutes are given guidelines about the curriculum and professional practices to be followed strictly and taught to the students as well. 4) Publishing important works done in the field (in healthcare magazines and journals) plus appreciating and rewarding the scientists is also a key responsibility of IBMS. The institute keeps track of all its members, the work done (achievements and experience) by them and qualify them into various categories based upon the same. 5) IBMS takes enough care to help the biomedical scientists to attain recognition and respect for their work by publishing the same and also makes sure to keep them involved into continuous development programs which are necessary for their growth as a professional. Apart from this they make an effort to keep them updated with the industry news, advancements in the field and job opportunities. All of the above are applicable for a registered biomedical scientist. A biomedical scientist becomes a registered biomedical scientist once he becomes a member of IBMC. For this he/she needs to submit an application which is reviewed and judged by the panel of IBMS. To accomplish all the above mentioned tasks completely; the IBMS has many working members divided region wise and expert panels (advisory boards) belonging to various biomedical specialty areas.        Pitt and Cunningham, 2009 contended in their book, Health professional’s council (HPC) is another regulatory body; which deals with thirteen different healthcare disciplines and biomedical science is one of them. Registration of a biomedical scientist with HPC is important to gain him a title of registered biomedical scientist. All the applicants for the same are scrutinized by a jury of experts for the qualifications, training, professional experience and achievements as a biomedical scientist. The registered members are then bound to follow the standards and professional practice guidelines laid by HPC. These include the guidelines pertaining the knowledge, educations and training the registrants should have; plus the code of conduct and professional behaviour a registered biomedical scientist is expected to display or demonstrate while working. The ethics related to the profession of biomedical science are also covered under the guidelines of HPC. (Pitt et al. n.d.). Thus, as IBMS controls only the educator universities and institutes; HPC controls the work behaviour of registered biomedical scientists as well. The list of registrants is made available for the general public. This could be used by recruiters as well as patients if in case they need to complaint about breach of certain rules.  Being a Registered Biomedical Scientist is a Rewarding but Challenging Job: Practicing or working as a registered biomedical scientist is a huge responsibility because this kind of job does not permit mistakes. The scientist here might not be dealing with the patient directly but affects his life. This is so because the medical laboratory reports produced by them are used by the doctors and healthcare providers to diagnose the patient’s health condition and form a treatment plan based on the same. As well described by Pitt, 2009 a slight mistake in reporting the results can lead to vast negative consequences for the patient. Thus complete professionalism is essential in the field of biomedical science to ensure the same, the regulatory authorities responsible for controlling and reviewing the varied aspects of all the biomedical science related activities (IBMS and HPC) have laid certain codes of conduct, professional behaviour code and field ethics which need to be diligently followed by all those related to the field of biomedical science. (Pitt et al. n.d.). A good registered biomedical scientist is always careful with his behaviour and field ethics while working and handling patient samples and data. While correctly reporting the findings pertaining the tests results of the patient sample is one essential responsibility; another one is maintaining the complete confidentiality of patient data and avoiding any unwanted leakage of the patient related data. The biomedical scientists are not healthcare providers themselves but form an integral part of the healthcare system and structure. Their activities and tasks they perform are essential for the proper functioning of the system. Without appropriate analysis of the patient samples, diagnosis and treatments are not possible. So after the healthcare provider first examines the patient’s condition; the next essential step is to know the prevailing disease pathology and other laboratory parameters which are provided by the registered biomedical scientists after analysing the patient samples through appropriate laboratory tests. Their work is not limited to one disease type or category but to all forms of body ailments. Even for ensuring good health, laboratory tests are done and thus biomedical scientists play a role in disease as well as health of the people. All clinical labs and pathology departments of hospitals remain in search of good, qualified and registered biomedical scientists who can be trusted into performing appropriate tests of the patient samples and provide correct and authentic result/ reports to the doctor on time. (Pitt et al. n.d.). Thus, biomedical scientists are an important part of the healthcare system. Registered biomedical scientists form the spine of the healthcare system and therefore should try to ethically and professionally follow their ethics to accomplish the goals of their challenging but rewarding career path. As the scientist gains more experience, knowledge and expertise with various laboratory testing aspects he can be asked to manage or supervise more than one department at the same time. Reference List Compositions and Methods for Modulating Vascular Development. Patentdocs. [Online] Available at < http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20090297512 > Accessed on 14, Dec. 2011. Iles, R. & Docherty, S. n.d. Chapter 8: Biomedical Sciences. Print. Pitt, SJ., Cunningham, J. & Cunningham, JM. n.d. Chapter 4: An Introduction to Biomedical Science in Professional and Clinical Practice. Print. Prachi. 2010. The Future of Indian Defence. Indian & Desi. [Online] Available at Accessed on 14, Dec. 2011. Read More