There are various ways of supporting medical equipment. Each situation should be appraised in view of its own unique geographic, demographic and size characteristics to determine the most appropriate programme, or combination of programmes, for that particular hospital or group of hospitals. Following are some of the staffing options which may need to be considered.

In-house services, where the biomedical engineering personnel are employees of the hospital. In many ways this is the preferred approach, for reasons of local knowledge and sensibilities, and of staff continuity and commitment.

Shared services, which is essentially the same as in-house, except that staff work for two or more hospitals in combination. There may be many opportunities for sharing the costs and capabilities of medical engineering people amongst hospitals.

Outside services, where personnel who provide medical engineering services are not employees of the hospital, but are contractors or employees of contractors.

Use of short-term temporary staff to carry out specific tasks or assignments (by calling upon, for example, the Biomed Buddies)!

Combinations of any of the above services (this is increasingly the option being used by cost-efficient management).

 
home