Development of an inservice educational program for clinical staff

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Healthcare Management
• Clinical Engineering

Background:

• Inservice education is a critical tool for clinical engineers.
• Effective programs can reduce time spent on corrective tasks.
• This allows engineers and technicians to focus on higher-value activities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design a comprehensive technical inservice education program for John Dempsey Hospital.
• To assess current inservice practices and identify educational needs.
• To develop a streamlined and effective program.

Main Methods:

• Assessed current inservice practices via equipment repair records.
• Surveyed hospital clinicians, external clinical engineers, and vendors.
• Conducted a pilot program to gather data and gain support.
• Utilized quantitative cost-benefit analysis.

Main Results:

• Identified needs and problems in current inservice practices.
• Developed a streamlined inservice program proposal.
• Confirmed a net positive effect through cost-benefit analysis.
• Gained acceptance and support from key hospital personnel.

Conclusions:

• A well-designed inservice program is highly effective for clinical engineers.
• The proposed program is efficient and beneficial.
• This approach optimizes resource allocation and enhances institutional value.