Clinical Engineering
Lecture (3)
?What is a clinical engineer
• A clinical engineer is an engineer who has
graduated from an accredited academic
program in engineering or who is licensed
as a professional engineer or engineer-in-
training and is engaged in the application
of scientific and technological knowledge
developed through engineering education
and subsequent professional experience
within the health care environment in
support of clinical activities.
• The clinical environment is defined as that
portion of the health care system in which
patient care is delivered, and clinical
activities include direct patient care,
research, teaching, and public service
activities intended to enhance patient care.
Rules of clinical engineer in
hospital
1- Supervision of a hospital clinical engineering department
that includes clinical engineers and biomedical
equipment technicians (BMETs)
2- Pre-purchase evaluation and planning for new medical
technology
3- Design, modification, or repair of sophisticated medical
instruments or systems
4- Cost-effective management of a medical equipment
calibration and repair service
5- Supervision of the safety and performance
testing of medical equipment performed by
BMETs
6- Inspection of all incoming equipment (i.e., both
new and returning repairs)
7- Establishment of performance benchmarks for
all equipment
8- Training of medical personnel in the safe and
effective use of medical devices and systems
9- Clinical applications engineering, such as custom
modification of medical devices for clinical research,
evaluation of new noninvasive monitoring systems, etc.
10- Biomedical computer support
11- Input to the design of clinical facilities where medical
technology is used, e.g., operating rooms (ORs),
intensive care units, etc.
12- Development and implementation of documentation
protocols required by external accreditation and
licensing agencies.
Governing Board (Trustees)
• The governing body, therefore, requires both
medical and paramedical departments to
monitor and evaluate the quality of patient care,
which is a critical success factor in hospitals
today.
• To meet this goal, the governing board
essentially is responsible for establishing the
mission statement and defining the specific
goals and objectives that the institution must
satisfy.
the trustees are involved in the following
functions:
• Establishing the policies of the institution
• Providing equipment and facilities to conduct
patient care
• Ensuring that proper professional standards are
defined and maintained (i.e., providing quality
assurance)
• Coordinating professional interests with
administrative, financial, and community needs
• Providing adequate financing by securing
sufficient income and managing the
control of expenditures
• Providing a safe environment
• Selecting qualified administrators,
medical staff, and other professionals to
manage the hospital
Hospital Administration
• The hospital administrator, the chief
executive officer of the medical enterprise,
has a function similar to that of the chief
executive officer of any corporation.
• The administrator represents the governing
board in carrying out the day-to-day
operations to reflect the broad policy
formulated by the trustees.
• Preparing a plan for accomplishing the
institutional objectives, as approved by the
board
• Selecting medical chiefs and department
directors to set standards in their respective
fields
• Submitting for board approval an annual
budget reflecting both expenditures and
income projections
• Maintaining all physical properties (plant and
equipment) in safe operating condition
• Representing the hospital in its
relationships with the community and
health agencies
• Submitting to the board annual reports
that describe the nature and volume of
the services delivered during the past
year, including appropriate financial data
and any special reports that may be
requested by the board
Duties and Responsibilities of the director of
clinical engineering
• Works with medical and nursing staff in
the development of technical and
performance specifications for equipment
requirements in the medical mission.
• Once equipment is specified and the
purchase order developed generates
appropriate testing of the new
equipment.
• Does complete performance analysis on
complex medical equipment and
summarizes results in brief and easy-to-
understand terms for the purposes of
recommending corrective action or for
developing appropriate preventive
maintenance and performance assurance
protocols.
• Does complete performance analysis on
complex medical equipment and summarizes
results in brief and easy-to-understand terms
for the purposes of recommending corrective
action or for developing appropriate preventive
maintenance and performance assurance
protocols.
• Designs and implements modifications that
permit enhanced operational capability. May
supervise the maintenance or modification as it
is performed by others.
• Must know the relevant codes and
standards related to the hospital
environment and the performance
assurance activities.
• Supervises in-service maintenance
technicians as they work on codes and
standards and on preventive maintenance,
performance assurance, corrective
maintenance, a modification of new and
existing patient care and laboratory
equipment.
• Sets departmental goals, develops
budgets and policy, prepares and
analyzes management reports to monitor
department activity
• Teaches measurement, calibration, and
standardization techniques that promote
optimal performance.
Minimum Qualifications
• A bachelor’s degree (4 years) in an electrical or
electronics program or the equivalent is required
(preferably with a clinical or biomedical adjunct).
• A master’s degree is desirable. A minimum of 3
years’ experience as a clinical engineer and 2
years in a progressively responsible supervisory
capacity is needed.
Additional qualifications are as follows:
• Must have some business knowledge and
management skills that enable him or her to
participate in budgeting, cost accounting,
personnel management, behavioral counseling,
job description development, and interviewing
for hiring or firing purposes.
• Knowledge and experience in the use of
microcomputers are desirable.
• Must be able to use conventional
electronic trouble-shooting instruments
such as multimeters, function generators,
and oscilloscopes.
• Should be able to use conventional
machine shop equipment such as drill
presses, and standard hand tools.
