Northern Exposure Meets Biomedical Technology

Rick Small, CBET, left his home in Georgia and took a job as a biomedical technician at Providence Alaska Medical Center. In this story, Small discusses his new job and his new life in the Land of the Midnight Sun.

Watching the occasional moose walk past the windows of our biomed shop is only one of the unique features of my new life here in Alaska. It has been quite an adjustment for me since I left a great job at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and trekked more than 4,300 miles to settle in Anchorage. But despite all of its little quirks, I have fallen so much in love with this unusual place that I plan to spend the rest of my life here.

So just how does a guy who has worked for 25 years as a BMET in places like Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Atlanta decide to pack his car, drive for seven days, and start his life over in Alaska?

Outside of watching a few episodes of Northern Exposure on television, I really didn’t know much about the place. But three years ago, my wife and I took a trip up here to visit a close family friend. When we arrived, the beautiful scenery, the breathtaking mountains, and the distinctive wildlife quickly made us feel right at home. We enjoyed it so much that we came back for another visit the following year, and yet again the year after that. By our third visit, I think we knew that this place would become our next home.

So I began searching for open BMET positions, and ultimately landed a job at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage. Providence Health System is one of the leading employers in Alaska, with a total of 4,000 employees in the state. They have taken good care of my wife and me, even covering all of our moving expenses from Atlanta.

I’ve been particularly happy with my 12 co-workers in the department and the camaraderie that we share. For the most part, Alaskans are friendly, outdoors-loving people. So I really enjoy being able to put in a day’s work and then go catch some red salmon with a couple of co-workers afterward.

My co-workers have been a huge help to me in adjusting to the idiosyncrasies of working here. The sheer remoteness of our location—we’re one hour behind Pacific Time—means we have to be more self-sufficient than other biomed shops across the country. For example, we have to keep a lot of parts in stock, because it can often take longer for shipments to arrive here. Waiting for parts to arrive means we sometimes have to do temporary repairs on equipment to keep it going until the ideal part arrives.

Perhaps the most important thing I’ve learned about ordering parts is to order them early in the day. If I try to place an order with a company on the East Coast at 1:00 p.m. Alaska time, it’s already 5:00 p.m. in the East. So if I don’t start early, my order may have to wait until the following day.

I’ve learned a lot about living and working here, and I hope to have a chance to share what I’ve learned with future Alaskans. I may soon have the chance, as my department is currently looking to fill a BMET position. Adventure seekers who love the outdoors are encouraged to apply.

Some people might find it odd that my wife and I would leave the “lower 48” behind for a new life in the last frontier. But considering the incredible beauty and the endless recreational opportunities up here, I find it surprising that more people don’t do it.

If you’ve never been to Alaska before, be sure to plan a trip sometime. But if you do, be warned—you just may want to stay for good.

—Rick Small, CBET

SOURCE: AAMI News: Vol. 41, No. 08, September 2006