Clinical Engineering

Abstract

Clinical engineering supports and advances patient care by applying engineering and managerial skills to healthcare technology. Since the 1970s, as medical device technologies have proliferated, increasingly impacting the cost and quality of healthcare, the clinical engineering profession has matured to play a significant role in healthcare technology management. It increases the cost-effectiveness, safety, and optimal utilization of medical devices. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the clinical engineer’s body of knowledge. It is addressed to international clinical engineering researchers, faculty, and students, as well as clinical engineering practitioners, medical device technology managers, hospital administrators, clinical and technology support personnel, regulators, and manufacturers. The chapter provides a solid foundation upon which healthcare systems can utilize methods for managing the ever-increasing number and complexity of medical device technologies and systems.