26
Technology advances are rapidly affecting the healthcare industry. Mobile technologies are enabling processes with power not long ago reserved for large computers. Better, faster, cheaper and definitely smaller is evident in the amazing technologies being deployed in the medical devices – from smart pumps to implantable defibrillators. Diagnostic equipment too has advanced in capability due to “computer on board”. The technologies of medical devices and information systems are converging.
Convergence in this context creates challenges for those tasked with the maintenance and operations of the technologies. In most organizations, medical devices are maintained by biomedical engineering whereas the computer systems are supported by the information systems department. Who maintains the “computer on board” the new million dollar whatchamacallit? Biomedical professionals are not historically trained to be concerned about interfaces, file back ups and system reliability. Conversely, IT folks don’t like to get too close to things that could harm a patient. I have heard from CIO’s who have been asked to confirm the supportability of a gamma knife (non-invasive surgical instrument used on brain tumors). If the CIO is not the authority, then who is? We’ve come a long way from making sure that payroll got out on Friday.
If you're new, you may subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!