Technology assessment, transfer, and management: the implications to the professional development of clinical...

Technology, as applied in healthcare, is an encompassing term for products, equipment, procedures and services allied in some way with healthcare. This paper discusses technology as the word applies to healthcare. Areas of activity under the umbrella of technology--technology transfer, technology assessment and technology management--will be defined and discussed from the standpoint of their interaction with clinical engineering. The clinical engineering profession has approached participation in each of these activities in a nonsystematic manner, resulting in limited impact and a limited role. To go beyond its present role, the profession must study the processes of technology assessment, transfer, and management to understand their components, critical paths, strengths and weaknesses. This research should be undertaken by a joint group of clinical engineers representing practitioners and academia. Existing key players or professions should be identified, the role clinical engineers wish to pursue as a professional group and the skills required to assure competency should be declared, and appropriate resources for acquiring knowledge and experience identified.