Innovative communication in a biomedical engineering department

Effective communication is one of the most important and often overlooked components of the functioning of a biomedical engineering department. The Biomedical Engineering Department (Biomed) at the VA Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts uses innovative methods and resources to improve communication between Biomed and the Medical Center staff. While some changes have dealt directly with the information content communicated by Biomed, many improvements have also been made to the format in which information and ideas are presented. The latter changes serve the purpose of improving communication by ensuring that the presented information is both understood and retained. Improvements have been made in the areas of operator training, alerting users to actual and potential hazards and recalls, and staff education concerning Biomed's role in the Medical Center and the availability of Biomed to assist in technology issues.