Clinical engineering department staffing: analysis of two surveys

In this brief paper, the author analyzes the nationwide 1985 Journal of Clinical Engineering department survey data and 1988 Pennsylvania data in relationship to clinical or biomedical department staffing. The 1988 Pennsylvania data yield a relationship between the total facility engineering department staffing and the hospital bed count. The 1985 journal survey data provide relationships between the smaller clinical/biomedical staffing and bed count, number of devices, and budgets. While the linear correlation coefficients were higher for the Pennsylvania total facility engineering department data, none of the relationships presented here should be considered to be absolute predictors. Departments differ in their responsibilities, work load, and types of equipment serviced. These differences make absolute analysis or prediction of staffing problematic. The results presented here may be useful, however, as general indicators when applied with caution.