Medical Technology Management Practice

With continuous rapid advancement, technology has infiltrated into all parts of everyday life. Modern health care delivery and medicine are increasingly dependent on technology in the diagnosis and mitigation of illnesses, in disease prevention, and in health promotion. Medical technology is one of the driving forces in shaping the direction of health care. However, it is also a primary factor for the escalating cost in the health care delivery system. For these reasons, it is important for managers to master the arts and methodologies in medical technology management so that technology can be used appropriately, effectively, and efficiently. This book studies the medical technology life cycle from the user's perspective, starting from technology acquisition to disposal. It takes a practical approach to analyze medical technology management in clinical settings. General practices are described throughout the book, concepts are reinforced with real-life examples, and practical tools are used for illustration whenever possible. An overview of the medical technology development and standards is also included in the last two chapters to provide readers with a general concept to related standards and regulatory control in technology development to medical technology management practice. This book is written for readers who already have a general understanding of the health care environment and are interested in getting a practical understanding of managing medical technologies. Such readers may include but are not limited to health administrators, technology planners, biomedical engineers and technologists, and supervisors and managers of technology-intensive departments. It is hoped that this text will enlighten readers to start using a systematic life cycle approach to manage medical technology so that appropriate technologies are used safely, effectively, and efficiently for the betterment of mankind.