Management of Medical Technology

Management of Medical Technology: A Primer for Clinical Engineers introduces and examines the functions and activities of clinical engineering within the medical environment of the modern hospital. The book provides insight into the role that clinical engineers play in the management of medical technology. Topics covered include the history, job functions, and the professionalization of clinical engineering; safety in the clinical environment; management of hospital equipment; assessment and acquisition of medical technologies; preparation of a business plan for the clinical engineering department; and the moral and ethical issues that surround the delivery of health-care. Clinical engineers and biomedical engineers will find the book as a great reference material.

Contents

Contributors

Acknowledgments

1. Clinical Engineering: Evolution of a Discipline

Evolution of the Modern Health-Care System

What is Clinical Engineering?

Hospital Organization and the Role of Clinical Engineering

Professional Status of Clinical Engineering

Certification for Clinical Engineers

Clinical Engineering Education

Future of Clinical Engineering

Exercises

References

2. Safety in the Clinical Environment

Electrical Safety

Safety Programs

Summary

Exercises

References

3. Technology Management

Technology Management Program

Medical Equipment Management

Maintenance Schedules

Computerized Maintenance Management and Information Systems

Summary

Exercises

References

4. Medical Technology: Assessment and Acquisition

Technology Assessment

Technology Assessment in Hospitals: An Example

Acquisition of New Equipment

Summary

Exercises

References

5. Codes, Standards, and Regulations

History

Definitions

Role of the United States Government

Building Codes

Voluntary Consensus Standards Organizations

Voluntary Accreditation Organizations

Trade Associations

Professional Societies

Listing Organizations

International Standards

Summary

Exercises

References

6. Facilities Management and Design

Facilities Management

Facilities Design

Case Study: Design of a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory

Summary

Exercises

References

7. Management and Supervision

Planning

Preparing a Business Plan

Organizing and Leading

Controlling

A Case Study: The Biomedical Instrumentation Department at the University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Summary

Exercises

References

8. Development and Operation of a Clinical Engineering Department: A Practitioner's Perspective

Development of a Clinical Engineering Program: Initial Steps

Determination of Required Resources

Program Management

Summary

Exercises

References

9. Computer Systems of Interest to Clinical Engineers

Basic Computer Concepts

The Binary Number System

The Microcomputer

Memory Storage and Input/Output (I/O) Devices

Data Acquisition and Signal Processing

Computer Networks

Data Base Systems

Computers in the Clinical Laboratory

Patient Data Base Acquisition, Multiphasic Testing and Development of the Patient Medical Record

Patient Monitoring Systems

Medical Imaging Technology

Diagnostic Support Systems: Expert Systems in Clinical Care

Clinical Engineering and Management—Information Systems

Summary

Exercises

References

10. Moral and Ethical Issues in Clinical Engineering Practice

The Ethical Significance of Professionalism

Code of Ethics

The Nature of Moral Judgments

Defining Death: A Moral Dilemma Posed by Medical Technology

Euthanasia

Human Experimentation

Regulation of Medical Device Innovation

Conclusion: Equitable Access to Medical Technologies

Exercises

References

11. Clinical Engineering: International Comparisons and Future Directions

The First International Survey of Clinical Engineering Departments (1988)

Major Conclusions of the First Study

The Second Study (1991)

Main Changes occurring Over the Three-Year Period (1988-1991)

Conclusion

References

Index