Advanced clinical engineering workshops in Central America.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Healthcare Management
• International Health

Background:

• The American College of Clinical Engineering (ACCE) has a decade-long history of conducting Advanced Clinical Engineering Workshops.
• Recent ACCE workshops have primarily focused on developing nations within Latin America and the Caribbean.
• These initiatives are often undertaken in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), an affiliate of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the objectives and curriculum of the ACCE's Advanced Clinical Engineering Workshops.
• To detail the author's personal involvement and experiences in specific workshops.
• To highlight the transfer of clinical engineering knowledge and best practices to developing regions.

Main Methods:

• The presentation describes the general structure and content of the workshops.
• It includes a case study of the author's participation in workshops held in Costa Rica (2002) and El Salvador (2003).
• Qualitative insights are drawn from direct experience in these international settings.

Main Results:

• Workshops successfully delivered advanced clinical engineering training in diverse healthcare settings.
• The collaborative approach with PAHO facilitated broader reach and impact.
• Participant engagement and knowledge transfer were key outcomes, though not quantitatively measured in this abstract.

Conclusions:

• Advanced Clinical Engineering Workshops are a valuable tool for enhancing healthcare technology management in developing countries.
• International collaboration, such as with PAHO, is crucial for the success and sustainability of such programs.
• The described workshops contribute to strengthening healthcare infrastructure and patient safety in the targeted regions.