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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Great Plains Area

OEHE Biomed

Great Plains Area Biomedical Engineering Program
Health Technology Management / Clinical Engineering

The Great Plains Area (GPA) Biomedical Engineering Program, part of the Office of Environmental Health and Engineering (OEHE), ensures that medical technology across IHS and Tribal healthcare facilities operates safely, efficiently, and reliably. Our Health Technology Management (HTM) and Clinical Engineering (CE) teams provide comprehensive technical support for all patient care equipment—from preventive maintenance to technology planning and safety oversight.

Leadership
The program is led by the Great Plains Area Office of Environmental Health and Engineering (OEHE):

  • Brent Rohlfs, P.E. – Associate Area Director, OEHE
  • Terrence Gates – Director, HTM/Clinical Engineering

    • Great Plains Area OEH&E
    115 4th AVE SE
    Room 309, Federal Building
    Aberdeen, SD 57401
    Phone: 605-226-7604   C 605.295.3075

  • Dustin Pitlick – Deputy Director, HTM/Clinical Engineering

    • Pierre District Office
    420 S. Garfield, Suite 600
    Pierre, SD 57501
    Phone: 605-945-1319   C 605.222.9210

  • Michael Wenk – Field Service Supervisor, Pierre District Office

    • Pierre District Office
    420 S. Garfield, Suite 600
    Pierre, SD 57501
    Phone: 605-945-1319   C 605.220.6350

The team oversees 16 engineering and biomedical positions supporting facilities in Aberdeen, Pierre, and Rosebud.

Program Responsibilities
The GPA Biomedical Engineering Program ensures that all clinical technology meets performance, safety, and regulatory standards. Core responsibilities include:

  • Equipment Maintenance and Management: Preventive and corrective maintenance of medical equipment using the Nuvolo Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
  • Contract and Asset Oversight: Managing medical equipment inventories, service contracts, and acquisition requests to ensure efficient lifecycle management.
  • Quality and Safety Assurance: Conducting monthly HTM review meetings with Service Units, providing QAPI (Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement) data, and participating in Environment of Care (EOC) rounds.
  • Incident and Safety Reporting: Supporting iStar reporting, safety alerts, and recall investigations to ensure timely corrective actions.

Commitment to Service

The Great Plains Area Biomedical Engineering Program is committed to protecting patient safety, supporting clinical excellence, and advancing technology readiness across all healthcare facilities. By ensuring dependable medical equipment and responsive service, we help enable high-quality healthcare delivery for the communities we serve.