Eddie Acosta
Kaiser Permanente, Northern California Region
Eddie Acosta
of
Kaiser Permanente, Northern California Region:
On the forefront of technology
12/1/2009 12:00:00 AM
by:
Keri Forsythe
For some professionals, the decision to become a biomed was largely the result of a patient or teacher who endorsed the profession. Others were lured to the field by the promise of job stability and unwavering demand for services. (After all, thanks to U.S. News & World Report’s inclusion of biomedical technology in its “America’s Best Careers” list, the industry has never looked so hot.) Eddie Acosta, CBET, CLRT, however, wasn’t enticed by any of these factors. For the Texas native, the decision to pursue the biomedical sciences can be best summed up in one phrase: being at the right place at the right time.
An aircraft maintenance quality assurance inspector for the U.S. Air Force (USAF), Acosta was presented with the opportunity to service medical equipment. Never one to balk at the chance to learn a new skill, he enthusiastically accepted the position. More specifically, Acosta says, “The USAF was trying a new approach for inspecting, and they allowed me to retrain. So, I looked at the positions available and thought that this was an interesting job.” More than a decade later, Acosta couldn’t be happier with the path his career has taken. However, if he’s learned anything from his transition into the biomedical sciences, it’s that sometimes our professional paths take unexpected – albeit favorable – turns.
Professional Advancement
Compared to some of his colleagues, Acosta’s biomedical career has been relatively short. However, what he lacks in years, he certainly makes up for in experience. Case in point: In 17 years, Acosta has held key positions at three different organizations and served in prominent roles throughout his state’s biomedical engineering association. And, although he has only held his current post as a clinical systems engineer at Kaiser Permanente, Northern California Region for 10 months – where he supports cardiology for more than 20 hospitals and 50 clinics – he has already left a strong mark on the hospitals. In fact, he has arguably been given an opportunity of a lifetime.
According to Acosta, “One of the major projects that I’m supporting Kaiser on is their patient-monitoring data-integration project. With technology constantly moving forward and the integration of IT and clinical technology, there is a great opportunity to advance patient health.” Plus, he reveals, “The integration with patient-monitoring data, ventilators, IV pumps, and other biomedical devices into the EMR will provide new protocols for nursing and increasing efficiency.” To Acosta, this project represents a giant leap forward in the way patients are cared for and records are maintained.
Of course, there are still some kinks to work out, but Acosta anticipates that this endeavor will have major implications for the healthcare community. “Right now, it’s just patient-monitoring data, and we haven’t integrated all of the equipment yet; [however], that’s on the horizon,” Acosta asserts. Fortunately, this project is right up his alley. “I’m very interested in integrating all patient data into electronic medical records, saving hospitals time and money,” he states.
 Wearing Many Hats
In addition to his current work with Kaiser Permanente, Acosta has also held numerous others posts. For instance, some of his notable roles include a position as a certified biomedical equipment technician at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston and two separate stints at USAF David Grant Medical Center. (Acosta worked as a senior biomedical engineering technician at David Grant from 1996 to 2005, left briefly, and returned to the facility from 2006 to 2009 as a biomedical engineering technology manager.) “I’ve done several different aspects of biomedical engineering,” he says. “I’ve been a biomed and worked on surgical and anesthesia equipment. I’ve also worked in imaging project management and maintained and managed [various] imaging contracts, including CT, mammography and PACS.”
Additionally, Acosta’s other noteworthy accomplishments include developing and maintaining an inventory of integrated medical equipment training, which complied with Joint Commission mandates, and securing a calibration contract for David Grant Medical Center. Although he acknowledges that his positions have required him to wear many different hats, he relishes contributing to the advancement of his profession. “I want to be on the forefront of implementing new technology for advancing patient care,” he proclaims.
Another way Acosta has shown his commitment to the biomedical profession is through his work with the California Medical Instrumentation Association (CMIA). Serving as the Capitol Region (Sacramento) chapter president from 2008 to 2009, where he has doubled membership, Acosta was elected in 2009 as the Chairman Pro-Tem for the CMIA state board. And, next month, Acosta will be honored yet again: He will be promoted to Chairman at CMIA’s annual symposium in San Diego. Through his involvement with the CMIA, Acosta aspires to “promote the profession and provide education for the career field.”
Moving forward, Acosta plans to bring even more innovation to both Kaiser Permanente and the CMIA. He’s also very excited about his work with the patient-monitoring data-integration project and the promise it offers patients and healthcare workers alike. “This integration is going to advance the biomedical/clinical-engineering departments, with the availability of new technology to constantly monitor devices for location, operational status and preventative maintenance conditions,” he states. If his past accomplishments are any indication of what’s to come, Acosta is well on his way to fulfilling his lofty career goals.
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Posted by:
Stephen Zigelstein
on
12-10-2009
I have known Mr. Acosta since we both retrainined in to the Biomedical Maintenace program together in 1992. I also served with him from 2000-2001 At David Grant Medical Center AS NCOIC of the Clinical Engineering Department. Eddie has always had passion and a drive to provide quality in what he does to benifit the career field and patient safety. congratulation and I commend what you are doing for the career field.
Thanks
Stephen Zigelstein
Director, Clinical Engineering
University of Rochester Medical Center
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Posted by:
Jorge L Perez, CBET, CA&P, USArmyVet
on
12-10-2009
I first met Mr. Acosta when we both got hired to work for the Michael E DeBakey VAMC in Houston on the same day. I thought I was the only biomed who loved repairing medical equipment instead of calling the vendor in first but noticed that he really loved taking care of customers and their equipment, too. When I needed help with something and ask for his help he was always there for me. We always would say that our area was the entire hospital! Some techs only take care of certain section of the hospital because that is what their supervisor said so or they can not repair it because they were not trained or were affraid to touch it.
We need more biomeds techs to be like Eddie Acosta. Not affraid to take care of any problem when needed!
Thanks Eddie!! You got my number if you need my help buddy!!
Jorge L Perez, CBET, CA&P, USArmyVet!!
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