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BMET shop enables med group to heal the base

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Joshua J. Garcia
  • 380 Air Expeditionary Wing
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  The 380th Expeditionary Medical Group provides different types of services to include routine check-ups, X-rays, and dental care. The medical equipment used to provide these services and ensure the health and well-being of the wing's personnel is maintained by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Anthony Orme, 380th EMDG biomedical maintenance equipment technician.

"I support the medical group at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing to include clinics at the geographical separated units," said Orme. "I am responsible for taking care of all the medical equipment, so they can continue to provide aid to the wing."

Orme said his job ranges from performing scheduled preventative maintenance inspections to fixing high priority machines at a moment's notice.

The array of equipment provides challenges for the BMET shop.

Orme said sometimes he has to resort to re-reading manuals or contacting manufactures directly.  This adds extra time the equipment is unable to be used.

In the medical group, equipment down-time could mean delayed or inadequate medical care for patients.

Orme a Weirton, W.Va. native said recently the dental clinic's sterilizer broke, and patient appointments had to be rescheduled. Orme said he was able to get the machine serviceable in two days.

Orme maintains hundreds of equipment to include those at the GSUs.

"Once every six months a BMET will travel to the GSUs and perform preventative maintenance checks on equipment," Orme said. "If anything breaks they send it here, and it's sent back after it's fixed."

Orme said he appreciates the challenges that come with the job.

"I really enjoy what I do," said Orme. "There are moments when I get to think outside-of-the-box to solve an issue with a piece of equipment to get it working again."

Orme said this outside-of-the-box thinking helps him in performing his duties. The highest priority for BMETs is to prevent disruption of care, so Orme ensures he gets equipment up and running and back to providers in a timely manner. He said no piece of equipment has taken longer than two days to be back in working order.

"On multiple occasions the radiology equipment has malfunctioned," said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Kelly Tipps, diagnostic imaging journeyman. "From power issues, to processing errors, Staff Sgt. Orme has been able to get it back up and running in no time at all."

As the 380th EMDG works hard to keep the wing healthy, Orme continues to maintain the equipment used to render care. He understands the importance of his job and relishes it.

"My job might be challenging at times," said Orme. "But knowing that the equipment I maintain can possibly save lives is rewarding."