Completing the transition from clinical engineering to technology management

Comprehensive technology management has a bright, important future in the nation's hospitals as they move into the 1990s in an environment that emphasizes high-quality, cost-effective health care. Going from equipment control to technology management will not be easy for some hospitals and some clinical engineers, but it is important to take whatever steps are necessary to accomplish the transition. The speed with which hospitals complete the transition to technology management will vary. A hospital may wish to broaden its clinical engineering department's role immediately but be realistically limited by the number of qualified personnel or the funds available. If it is not possible to accomplish them in a short time, technology management functions can be phased in. But they must not be forgotten. In many hospitals, clinical engineering has made substantial progress toward the ideal Level 5 department described in the previous article. Embracing the concept of comprehensive technology management and performing its functions will enable clinical engineering to achieve a place in the hospital that is more important and valuable than simply equipment support, and will help to prepare the hospital for the 1990s.