The coronavirus pandemic prompted many businesses to rethink and rework the way they do business, including DirectMed Imaging. We place the utmost importance on the health and safety of our employees, customers, and the trainees who come to our facility to receive expert instruction.
If you or any employees from your department plan to visit our headquarters in Appleton, Wisconsin, we want you to know about the changes we’ve made to protect against the spread of COVID-19.
COVID-19 Safety Precautions at DirectMed Imaging
Those who visit DirectMed Imaging at this time will find we are following the CDC’s recommended guidelines for workplaces such as ours. Many of the precautions will be familiar:
Social distancing: Staying six feet apart at all times is now standard practice during our in-person trainings. In order to ensure appropriate social distancing, we’ve reorganized student spaces and maintained our limited class sizes of six to eight people.
Personal protective equipment: While trainees are welcome to bring their own masks and other forms of PPE, we’ve also made masks available in all common areas. In addition, we’ve installed hand sanitizer stations throughout the building to reduce the potential spread of any pathogens.
Cleaning and sanitization: DirectMed Imaging has a crew that comes into the building daily for a thorough cleaning with disinfectants that are approved for use against coronavirus. Special attention is given to surfaces in high-traffic areas including classrooms, restrooms, and other places where people tend to congregate.
Meals during training: For the time being, we’ve eliminated buffets as meal options in the building. All meals are provided on an individual basis. Social distancing is also observed while trainees are eating.
Employee wellness and staffing: DirectMed Imaging is limiting the number of employees coming into our building. While it’s essential that warehouse staff and some of our engineers work on-site, many other employees are working remotely. Any employee showing symptoms of COVID-19 is asked to stay home or they will immediately be sent home.
Of course, we’d expect the same from trainees who feel sick or show signs of the virus. Please do not come to our in-person medical imaging training if you are unwell. We will be happy to reimburse the cost of the class or apply it to future training.
Another way to avoid potential exposure during our in-person classes is to reserve a time only for your team/employees. Sending a small group from the same organization eliminates some of the uncertainty around who may be infected. DirectMed Imaging can also customize our courses to meet your needs. That means you can help define how much time is spent in the classroom vs. hands-on training, and we can adjust the number of days it takes to complete a course.
Weighing the Risks of In-Person Medical Imaging Training
At DirectMed Imaging, we believe that in-person training is the best way to expand your knowledge of medical imaging and maintain the information you learn. That’s why we’ve built a state-of-the-art training facility with more live Siemens imaging systems than any place other than the OEM itself. And, it’s why our training experience typically involves 75% hands-on learning.
Read a medical imaging training case study to find out what an experienced engineer thinks about attending courses at DirectMed Imaging.
When you get hands-on training on a new modality or a specific Siemens system, that information is ingrained in your brain. You’re able to ask the trainer questions as you complete tasks on the equipment together.
However, we completely understand and respect the fact that training should not take precedence over health and safety. There are certainly risks involved with traveling. We encourage you to assess the current situation with COVID-19 and make an informed decision about the right time to visit us.
DirectMed Imaging also provides online medical imaging courses including Intro to X-Ray and Intro to Computed Tomography. Students can take our remote classes at their own pace.
The field of medical imaging is facing a talent shortage, which expert training can help resolve. For example, our courses can teach biomedical equipment technicians (BMETs) how to conduct preventive maintenance on Siemens systems and start on a path towards a career as an imaging engineer.
When you’re ready to invest in medical imaging training, DirectMed Imaging is ready to welcome you into an environment where we are striving to be as safe and sanitary as possible. If you have any questions about our courses or safety precautions, don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.
