Establishing biomedical equipment maintenance programs for hospitals in Turkey

Abstract

The function of a hospital is to meet the acute health needs of the community it serves. Biomedical instrumentation maintenance programs have been established to help hosp-itals meet these needs through the effective use of technology. These programs can be provided by both outside and inhos pital service organizations. In this study, the elements of an effective biomedical instrumentation maintenance program are presented, and various service options are discussed. In addition, data from surveys carried out in selected hospitals and original equipment manufacturer's representatives in Turkey are provided. In Turkey, there are fewer engineers and technicians in biomedical engineering discipline than are presently needed. There is only one Biomedical Engineering Institute at Bogazici University graduating Biomedical Engineers. Keeping this fact and the findings of the survey in account, 'modeI' biomedical instrumentation maintenance programs for small, medium-sized and large hospitals in Turkey are developed. A case study related to establishing an in-hospital biomedical engineering department Şişli Etfal Hospital is also presented. The proposed 'model' biomedical equipment maintenance programs will help to provide safe, high quality medical care, and effective cost control of this care.