Reviews

Justin McCarthy

This review by Dr Michael Ayers was first published in Scope 2017 September; 26(3) p. 50 Posted with permission from IPEM. Medical equipment management is a large and diverse area. Therefore, it is perhaps not surprising that books comprehensively covering the topic are few and far between. I was pleased when I heard about the publication of Healthcare Technology Management: A Systematic Approach. Other books I have read which cover medical equipment management have taken a rather hands-off approach to the topic, leading the reader, in a structured manner, through the various aspects of the equipment management lifecycle. This book presents a loftier ambition, inviting the reader to apply a systematic approach to the management of healthcare technology. This approach is based upon the ISO 55000 asset management suite of standards and defines processes that derive value from medical equipment. The book is divided into 10 chapters. The first chapters lay out the foundations for the rest of the book, describing the role of the clinical engineer within a healthcare organisation, the use of a systems engineering approach to the various aspects of equipment management, and describing applicable standards, regulations and guidelines. The next few chapters introduce the concept of the proposed healthcare technology management system, describing its application to a healthcare organisation, from high-level policy to its implementation by a clinical engineering department. The final chapters take a more directed look at the roles of clinical engineers, including their involvement beyond the day-to-day management of the equipment and the department within which they work. Also covered towards the end of the book is medical device governance and a look at the various benefits in the use of the systems proposed. At the end of each chapter are self-directed learning points and case studies. These help emphasise that the authors intended this book to be actively engaged with, not just read. In particular, I was impressed with the effort that has clearly gone into putting the case studies together. Evidently written based upon the authors’ personal experiences within clinical engineering, these painted a colourful picture of how the various topics discussed may apply to real-life situations. By presenting to the reader a singular concept for medical equipment management, this book perhaps sacrifices a certain degree of accessibility. Whilst it is possible to dip into certain topics, the interdependence between many of the chapters means that a certain degree of commitment by the reader is required to fully appreciate the vision presented by the authors. The reader should be prepared for regular reviews of earlier chapters; however, in my electronic version of the book, in the Bookshelf app on an iPad, this is handled well. The standard of writing remains high throughout the book and, combined with a distinct lack of errors for a first edition, make the text a pleasure to read. This book is described in the preface as being directed to anyone with responsibility towards medical equipment and its management. The focus however is clearly towards the clinical engineer. For anyone within this profession, I would not hesitate to recommend it. Whilst other books may provide a more accessible introduction to equipment management, this book is unique in the guidance it gives to the established clinical engineer to better utilise the medical equipment at their disposal. Dr Michael Ayers is a Clinical Scientist at Kings College Hospital, London, UK.

Justin McCarthy rated the book 5 out of 5.