The Biomedical Engineering Department
Medical devices are no longer pieces of equipment that stand alone by themselves. They are networked devices in systems of care that require a different skill set to maintain and keep operational. The old days of biomed technicians fixing isolated mechanical devices are long gone.
For those who manage or contract these services, it may be a critical time to examine how networked medical devices are changing clinical care and, therefore, to examine the approach to planning for medical devices and their maintenance.
Biomedical engineering (BME), clinical engineering, and health technology management are a few of the possible names that commonly are used for this service, and the profusion of titles is indicative that the skill set for medical equipment maintenance and management has been upgraded.
Senior hospital leadership must assure that it is getting the best medical equipment maintenance service for its inventory of medical devices. The medical device world has changed and hospitals have to keep pace to remain on the cutting edge.
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From Health Facilities Management Magazine March 2012 Issue.
Posted by Ohio Clinical Engineering Association 
