Shining a light on clinical engineering

Clinical Engineering is the application of science and technology to the maintenance and management of medical devices to optimise healthcare delivery. This encompasses medical devices used in a vast range of environments, including (but not limited to) equipment used within hospital wards and theatre environments, home monitoring equipment, devices such as CPAP machines used in the home and community settings, as well as assistive technologies. Medical technologies — such as surgical robots, integrated patient monitoring systems, and intelligent infusion pumps — are becoming increasingly complex, intelligent and have the potential to improve outcomes, efficiency and patient safety.

As the pandemic demonstrated, through the huge efforts of clinical engineers to rapidly upscale life-saving equipment in a crisis, this is a resourceful, skilful and dynamic profession. Clinical engineers are the backbone of healthcare across the globe and yet there is poor awareness of the vital work they do. It is clear that the future of technology-driven healthcare lies firmly in the skilful hands of clinical engineers.

In the lead up to Global Clinical Engineering Day, CSJ's editor, Louise Frampton, invited the Chair of IPEM's Clinical Engineering Special Interest Group, Dr. Victoria Kidgell, to share her views on why it is so important to celebrate this Global Clinical Engineering Day…