Risk management in medical equipment management

Abstract

The complexity of medical equipment continues to increase, with a greater possibility that patient care could be compromised. The ability of the clinical user of medical equipment to verify the function of some medical devices is reducing; in some cases, it is non-existent. In an environment of increasing litigation, the pressure to get it right in the management of medical equipment is paramount. The financial pressures on health care are also increasing. The need to minimise medico-legal proceedings while cutting costs in the management of medical equipment generates a challenge to balance the conflicting requirements of a clinical engineering service. Risk management can optimise the balance between financial pressures and the desire for safe and functional medical equipment. This requires professional input from clinical and engineering professionals to identify potential compromises to patient or operator safety, and the appropriate remedial measures. While the competing influences of financial efficiency and clinical safety are relatively well recognised, an additional moral obligation is less widely recognised. Information about the management of medical equipment by a health care establishment should be available to patients. This is arguably an important part of the patient's informed consent for a procedure, though not a popular suggestion with hospital management.