Healthcare Management: Clinical Engineering and Technology Analysis

This assignment delves into various aspects of healthcare management, providing a comprehensive analysis of key sectors and roles. It begins by defining the healthcare industry, including facilities, medical equipment, insurance, and pharmaceuticals. The assignment then examines the critical role of clinical engineers, emphasizing their managerial responsibilities in equipment maintenance, procurement, and commissioning. It explores how clinical engineers participate in research and innovation, bridging the gap between researchers and end-users. The analysis further discusses the impact of medical device standards and the constant need for clinical engineers to ensure compliance with evolving technological advancements. The assignment uses the example of ultrasound scanners to illustrate the engineers' involvement in procurement, commissioning, and research to address adverse events. The assignment's content is based on the provided text that covers healthcare management, clinical engineering, and related topics.

Running head: HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT 1
Healthcare Management
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT 2
Healthcare Management
#6
 Health care facilities and services which may include but not limited hospitals,
ambulance care services, healthcare professionals, and medical practitioners.
 Medical equipment, devices, as well as hospice supplies producers. This sector comprises
of all companies that employ their improved technologies in coming up with medical
solutions and offering hospital supplies, equipment, and needed facilities (Hegarty,
Amoore, Blackett, McCarthy, and Scott, 2017).
 Medical services, insurance, and managed care. This sector contains companies or
individuals who provide insurance cover to patients or other players to make sure that the
bills or expense is controlled not to outdo the ability of the individuals.
 Pharmaceuticals and other related sectors. Pharmacy mainly deals with the production
and marketing of drugs that are meant for medication. Some of the key players of the
industry may include Over-the-counter medicines, Generic drugs, among others.
#7
The inclusion of the term managerial skills in the definition of clinical engineer prompts
the critical task the individuals are embodied to undertake in terms of hospital equipment
maintenance. The engineers have the sole responsibility of ensuring that the equipment,
hospital technology is in order and serve as per their life cycle. Their managerial
responsibility here can be traced from the procurement stage to commissioning. Notably,
their culpability extends to the provision of supportive care at medical facilities regarding the
facilities.

HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT 3
#8
 Research refers to the collection of activities that lead to the advancement of
knowledge and delivery of new technology.
 Clinical engineers participate in the research operations that involve patients who need
technological application.
 The clinical engineers develop an improved conceptualization of the limitations and
characteristics of current medical equipment.
 They also evaluate the validity of the claims of the developers of the new equipment to
ensure that they deliver real benefits to the patients.
 Clinical engineers actively participate in the development of new equipment, processes or
systems when required by the outcomes of the research.
 They bridge the gap between the universal-based researchers and clinical end-users due
to their location in a hospital setting.
 They also develop methods of data collection and analysis.
 Innovation encompasses problem recognition, identification of the clinical need or
procedures that could be enhanced and initiation of ultimate solutions.
 Concerning innovation, clinical engineers engage in constant development of new
devices for them to be ready on the market (Glasgow, Colbert, Viator, & Cavanagh, 2018).
 They also play a vital role in the acquisition phase of new equipment to the market. This
included commissioning, positioning in the clinical setting and supporting the
implementation of new technology).
#9

HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT 4
It is true that medical devices have become more reliable and safer with respect to the
development and adoption of medical device standards. However, the entire narrative does not
limit the need for clinical engineers. Clinical engineers play a significant role in developing these
standards (Hossain, Rashid, Islam, & Ahmad, 2015). Innovation is a constant aspect of healthcare.
But before, the new technology is implemented, it is essential to ensure that it complies with the
standards made by the clinical engineers. However, the clinical engineers are improving on the
standards to ensure that they comply with the constantly shifting technological advancement.
Hence, the need for clinical engineers can never be compromised.
#10
With respect to the procurement phase of ultrasound scanners, clinical engineers can
engage in research operations to identify the most economical and effective priority (Malkin, &
Teninty, 2019). While at the commissioning phase, clinical engineers can engage in testing or
trialling of the ultrasound scanners. Following performance verification, clinical engineers can
evaluate the actual outcome of the ultrasound scanners against the expected results. In case of
adverse events like cavitation, clinical engineers can engage in research programs to come up
with new devices that may counter the condition. Furthermore, clinical engineers communicate
with the universal researchers to identify the most convenient sites free from human dwellings
for the disposal of ultrasound scanners after use.

HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT 5
References
Glasgow, M. E. S., Colbert, A., Viator, J., & Cavanagh, S. (2018). The Nurse‐Engineer: A New
Role to Improve Nurse Technology Interface and Patient Care Device
Innovations. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 50(6), 601-611.
Hegarty, F., Amoore, J., Blackett, P., McCarthy, J., and Scott, R., (2017). Healthcare Technology
Management: A systemic approach [online]. Retrieved from:
file:///C:/Users/user/Downloads/HealthcareTechnologyManagement%20book.pdf
Hossain, M. A., Rashid, M. A., Islam, M. R., & Ahmad, M. (2015). Current status of skilled
clinical engineer in developing countries. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 195,
1688-1693.
Malkin, R., & Teninty, B. (2019). Medical Imaging in Global Public Health: Donation,
Procurement, Installation, and Maintenance. In Radiology in Global Health (pp. 77-83).
Springer, Cham.