Clinical engineering: an in-depth review of its economic potential

Clinical Engineers are currently employed in hospitals to see that the more complex instrumentation is electrically safe and well maintained. Such an objective fails to capitalize on the economic advantages which can be derived from specialist management. This paper proposes that the objective be broadened to cover the application of engineering technology for lower cost-higher quality health care. The functions involved and the staff needed to attain this objective are analyzed, together with the modus operandi for selecting and integrating cost-effective equipment, designing practical maintenance programs, and training the staff to avoid equipment abuse. Details of recent equipment-oriented malpractice suits are reviewed to identify already proven vulnerable areas. The results achieved from this approach at a 450-bed University Hospital show an estimated reduction of from $144 to $59 for the average cost of a repair, and an overall 60 per cent cost saving in the handling of the biomedical electronic equipment.