Clinical
Engineering:
Clinical Engineers are professionally trained persons who apply
electrical, mechanical, optical, and other engineering principles to
understand application of medical technology in the clinical
environment. Clinical Engineers usually work with physicians,
nurses, respiratory therapists, radiology technicians, clinical
laboratory technologists, and other health care professionals in the function
and use of medical devices. The education level is usually a
Bachelor of Science but also may be a Master of Science or Ph.D.
level. Examples of Clinical Engineering work include:
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- Management and supervision
of Biomedical Equipment Technicians in a hospital based service
department so as to provide maintenance and preventive maintenance of
medical devices.
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- Joint Commission on
Accreditation for Healthcare Organization standard interpretation and
healthcare organization compliance for medical technology
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- Healthcare Organization
quality management for medical technology
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- Documented, targeted medical
device user education programs for physicians, nurses, and other
healthcare professionals on device operation, use, and safety
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- Investigation of medical
device related incidents in the delivery of healthcare
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- Federal Safe Medical Device
Act, CFR 21, code compliance for Healthcare Organizations
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- Quality management to avoid
repeated medical device incidents
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- Technical evaluation for new
medical device purchases
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- Capital budget planning for
medical technology acquisition
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- Upgrading and extending the
useful life of present medical technology
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- Working as part of a
healthcare team where high technology is involved for example:
- Assist in setting up or
upgrading cardiac surgery programs
- Assist in setting up and
operating complex medical information systems
- Establish or upgrade
surgical laser program
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- Team member to work with
Architects and Administration to plan and implement new health care
facilities
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