The Times They Are A-Changing

Abstract

Sometimes, when I find myself unable to articulate the essence of a period in time, I turn to the lyrics of one of the great musical talents of the past century. During the tumultuous 1960s, Bob Dylan wrote “If your time to you; Is worth savin; Then you better start swimming; Or you'll sink like a stone; For the times they are a-changin.” Little did he know that less than two years later, he would be pressured into a fundamentally radical change that would alter the course of his professional life and the music industry as he knew it. It was a change of technology—the switch from acoustic guitar to the irresistible twang of an electric guitar.Much like the technological and cultural changes that Dylan and others wrote about, the clinical engineering world is transitioning right in front of our noses. Advancements in medical technology and the recent demand for an increasing knowledge of IT systems design and analysis very closely resembles the uncertainty and conflict surrounding the introduction of electrical guitars into the folk/rock music scene of Dylan's time. Moreover, like Dylan we are presented with a choice that will impact our careers and our field. Do we, as clinical engineers, stand firm in our familiar and established scope of work and responsibilities or do we have an obligation to shift our priorities as the technology changes around us?While I will not pretend to know the one right answer, I will make the observation that as the line between CE and IT becomes increasingly ambiguous, it is all the more necessary that we continue to justify the importance and critical impact of the work we do. To do this, of course, we need to recognize that the demand for our services and the required knowledge base is a-changing. The language of CE is changing right before us and many will soon find themselves unable to “talk the talk” if we do not expand our knowledge base immediately.There is good news! As Rick Schrenker notes, there are countless resources available that will translate the evolving language for clinical engineers at all levels. If we plan to stay ahead of the curve, it is important that we schedule time in our busy days to learn about new technologies and techniques by studying textbooks and articles published by IEEE, FDA, AAMI, and related organizations. These institutions are devoted to providing CEs with guidance and information about the latest advancements in the field. They will not only keep us abreast to new and exciting news in the medical technology industry, but they will also guide us through evolving CE challenges like music notes on a page. If CE intends to remain a critical establishment in the clinical arena, it is imperative that we take the time to learn.When Bob Dylan first appeared at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965 with his electric guitar in hand, the change was not well accepted by all. Many fervent lovers of the acoustic folk traditions refused to accept his new sound and booed and sneered during his performances. Standing by his standards and artistic expectations, however, Dylan took a chance and did what he felt was the best move for his career. He later went on to further develop his folk style and his poetically eccentric lyrics but with his newly adopted sounds, eventually producing some of his life's greatest works. Like Dylan, the clinical engineering arena needs to stand firm in maintaining the same level of standards and objectives, but accomplish them using a different sound, no matter how many sentimentalists resist the change. If we plan to embrace the electric guitar, we must learn to play it before we can take the stage.