The evolution of an in house biomedical department

The Biomedical Instrumentation Services Department (BIS) at City of Hope Medical Center has been in a continuous process of development since its beginning in 1969. Its initial formation was based on a need for consolidation of repair services, the necessity of a strong engineering program to support clinical activities, and the need for instrumentation planning support. With the advent of cost containment, the department has been required to become more business oriented by streamlining organization, providing technician training, and developing income alternatives to reduce net operating cost. All of this was to be accomplished in a high-technology, rapidly-changing, competitive industry. The demands upon the department parallel the demands upon the entire health care industry today.