May 2003
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| Features |
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Patient Safety by Design: Making Human Factors Count |
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by [vvCheryl Hall Harris, R.N |
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Sometimes it’s a simple question of knob placement. Other times it’s
consideration of the environment where a device is being used. In any case, when more than
one-third of Medical Device Reports to the FDA mention errors and approximately 44 percent
of product recalls involve design problems, the human/machine interface ranks as a
prominent concern for BMETs and clinical engineering departments. Some industries call it
“ergonomics”; the medical device industry knows it as “human factors
engineering. |
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Service Solutions: CEMS |
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by Lisa Fratt |
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The hand-held with software scaled to fit your Palm or Pocket. An Application Service
Provider (ASP) solution. A Web-based/Web-enabled system. Asset-tracking technology. Get
one, get all, and don’t forget the “intelligent” features, such as e-mail
alerts, key performance indicators and standard nomenclatures. While it may be cliched,
it’s true: The latest clinical engineering management systems (CEMS) offer something
for everyone who is charged with keeping track of everything. |
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In This Ring: Wireless Communications vs. Clinical Equipment |
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by Bernadette Parrillo, BSEET, CBET, RRT |
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If you’re a member of a hospital’s clinical engineering staff, most likely
you’ve been asked to referee this bout: In one corner, the advantages of modern
wireless communications tools that improve hospital efficiency; in the other corner,
concern for patient safety and reliable operation of clinical equipment. Because of
biomeds’ technical expertise, most hospitals expect them to score a knockout; as a
result, biomeds find themselves jabbing and parrying the topic. Suggestions for biomeds
caught in the middle. |
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| COLUMNS |
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Editor's Note |
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by Marie S. Marchese |
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United in Pursuit of Biomed |
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Personal Technology |
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by Walter J. Mossberg |
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New Windows Laptops’ Processor Stretches Battery |
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Soapbox |
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by Ray Zambuto |
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Supporting the Common Good |
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