Medical materiel are medical supply technicians employed by the

hospitals A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment with specialized health science and auxiliary healthcare staff and medical equipment. The best-known type of hospital is the general hospital, which typically has an emerge ...

clinics A clinic (or outpatient clinic or ambulatory care clinic) is a health facility that is primarily focused on the care of outpatients. Clinics can be privately operated or publicly managed and funded. They typically cover the primary care needs ...

, and the

military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

; these professionals are responsible for managing and requisitioning, receiving, storing, issuing, safeguarding and accounting for supplies and

medical equipment A medical device is any device intended to be used for medical purposes. Significant potential for hazards are inherent when using a device for medical purposes and thus medical devices must be proved safe and effective with reasonable assura ...

used in healthcare. In addition, medical supply technicians are responsible for maintaining requirements and records on storage/war reserve materiel; establishing stock control levels and

inventory control Inventory control or stock control can be broadly defined as "the activity of checking a shop's stock". It is the process of ensuring that the right amount of supply is available within a business. However, a more focused definition takes into acco ...

; controlled medical items (i.e. drugs and precious metals); and delivering supplies and equipment to the customers.

Medical logistics Medical logistics is the logistics of pharmaceuticals, medical and surgical supplies, medical devices and equipment, and other products needed to support doctors, nurses, and other health and dental care providers. Because its final customers are r ...

is often confused with and falls over the professional group in the hospital, the medical materiel/medical supply technicians. Medical supply technicians have many specialized areas of which they work, such as medical equipment management office (MEMO), acquisitions, controlled medical items, inventory management, warehouse and distribution, and customer service.

Training

Sound knowledge of

high school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...

courses in management, basic electronic data processing,

bookkeeping Bookkeeping is the recording of financial transactions, and is part of the process of accounting in business and other organizations. It involves preparing source documents for all transactions, operations, and other events of a business. Tr ...

, accounting, and

business administration Business administration, also known as business management, is the administration of a commercial enterprise. It includes all aspects of overseeing and supervising the business operations of an organization. From the point of view of management ...

is highly desirable, and therefore tend to have bachelor's degrees in business and advanced degrees from major universities. Most entry-level technicians enter into the field with a two-year associate degree in medical materiel technology and have at least four years' experience in the field, or they spend around one year in full-time military training. A four-year graduate acts as a business administrator that perform the same medical materiel management duties similar to a medical supply or sales manager. Practical experience is gained through

internship An internship is a period of work experience offered by an organization for a limited period of time. Once confined to medical graduates, internship is used practice for a wide range of placements in businesses, non-profit organizations and gover ...

s. Continuing education in the form of mentoring and service schools is typically provided by specific medical supply manufacturers.

Professional certification

Medical materiel technicians typically require a type of

professional certification Professional certification, trade certification, or professional designation, often called simply ''certification'' or ''qualification'', is a designation earned by a person to assure qualification to perform a job or task. Not all certifications ...

, such as satisfying certain education requirements and passing an examination to become a certified materials & resources professional (CMRP, certified medical manager (CMM)), or certified professional logistician. In many cases, carrying the title of "CMRP" is highly encouraged, not mandatory, and is respected within the community.

Employment

In-house they typically work in the hospital's medical logistics department, but can also find employment as a third-party supply organization. Sales/supply organizations they work for

OEM An original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is generally perceived as a company that produces non-aftermarket parts and equipment that may be marketed by another manufacturer. It is a common industry term recognized and used by many professional or ...

or Third Parties and are often called sales specialists.

Military roles in the United States

All military members entering the Medical Materiel career field receive comprehensive training and management training at the

Department of Defense Department of Defence or Department of Defense may refer to: Current departments of defence * Department of Defence (Australia) * Department of National Defence (Canada) * Department of Defence (Ireland) * Department of National Defense (Philipp ...

Medical Materiel Technician Training School.

United States Air Force

*Job Code 4A1X1 (where X represents the corresponding skill level 3, 5, 7 or 9)

United States Army

*Job Code 76J which transitioned to 91J and is now 68J

United States Navy

*Navy Enlisted Codes SK (

StoreKeeper Storekeeper (SK) is an enlisted rating in the United States Coast Guard; until 2009 it was also a United States Navy rating, the most common supply rate in U.S. Navy vs. CS ( culinary specialist) and SH (Ship's Serviceman) and very much equivalen ...

Technician)

References

{{reflist Logistics Logistics, medical