AAMI: Role of clinical engineer differs in Japan and U.S.
SAN ANTONIO—“A clinical engineer (CEs) is a professional who supports and advances patient care by applying engineering and managerial skills to healthcare technology," according to the American College of Clinical Engineering While this definition doesn’t change, the roles and responsibilities of CEs across the globe vary, according to international presenters at the Association for the Advancement Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) conference & expo, June 26.
Terminology, education and responsibilities were among some of the differences noted by Japanese presenters Kiyoshi Matsusaka, vice chairman of the Japanese Association for Clinical Engineering Technologists (JACET); Hiroshi Yasuhara, MD, director of operations for the University of Tokyo Hospital; Hideo Takayanagi, managing director of JACET; and American presenter Alan Lipshultz, certified CE for Delaware-based Christina Health Care system.
The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare enacted legislation in 1987 requiring national certification to work as a CE in the country. Today, there are nearly 30,000 certified CEs in Japan, nearly 60 percent of which currently work in the field. Yasuhara said the number of CEs in Japan is growing annually. Comparatively, the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics has estimated that there are more than 15,000 clinical engineers in the U.S., despite the much larger population.
There is no national certification required to work as a CE in the U.S., noted Lipshultz, and education varies from four-year degrees, three year-degrees or different combinations of experience and education depending on the employer. Also, medical terminology in the U.S. is less strict, he said.
“Clinical engineers matriculate from many different backgrounds in the U.S. Many CEs have a bachelor ’s degree or a higher degree in engineering or engineering technology,” he said. “But there are are individuals who refer to themselves clinical engineers who are biomedical equipment technicians with experience in managerial aptitude.”
CEs in Japan manage medical equipment through inspection and repair, presenters explained, often filling a critical role in ensuring patient health while in the inpatient setting. They monitor and repair ventilators, hemodialysis equipment and defibrillators, as well as many other devices which fall under the scope of a CE’s responsibility in that country.
“CEs in Japan cover a broad range of clinical practices, including maintenance, circulation, respiration and metabolism,” Yasuhara noted.
However, a common trend in both countries, presenters noted, is the growth of job market. “In the future, maintenance and inspection of all this equipment will be increasingly important,” noted Hiroshi Yasuhara.
Similarly, the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics claimed the job market for CEs was rapidly growing. The most recent estimates from the bureau claim there are of the more than 15,000 clinical engineers currently in the U.S. job market, the median wage is close to $40 per hour.
Terminology, education and responsibilities were among some of the differences noted by Japanese presenters Kiyoshi Matsusaka, vice chairman of the Japanese Association for Clinical Engineering Technologists (JACET); Hiroshi Yasuhara, MD, director of operations for the University of Tokyo Hospital; Hideo Takayanagi, managing director of JACET; and American presenter Alan Lipshultz, certified CE for Delaware-based Christina Health Care system.
The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare enacted legislation in 1987 requiring national certification to work as a CE in the country. Today, there are nearly 30,000 certified CEs in Japan, nearly 60 percent of which currently work in the field. Yasuhara said the number of CEs in Japan is growing annually. Comparatively, the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics has estimated that there are more than 15,000 clinical engineers in the U.S., despite the much larger population.
There is no national certification required to work as a CE in the U.S., noted Lipshultz, and education varies from four-year degrees, three year-degrees or different combinations of experience and education depending on the employer. Also, medical terminology in the U.S. is less strict, he said.
“Clinical engineers matriculate from many different backgrounds in the U.S. Many CEs have a bachelor ’s degree or a higher degree in engineering or engineering technology,” he said. “But there are are individuals who refer to themselves clinical engineers who are biomedical equipment technicians with experience in managerial aptitude.”
CEs in Japan manage medical equipment through inspection and repair, presenters explained, often filling a critical role in ensuring patient health while in the inpatient setting. They monitor and repair ventilators, hemodialysis equipment and defibrillators, as well as many other devices which fall under the scope of a CE’s responsibility in that country.
“CEs in Japan cover a broad range of clinical practices, including maintenance, circulation, respiration and metabolism,” Yasuhara noted.
However, a common trend in both countries, presenters noted, is the growth of job market. “In the future, maintenance and inspection of all this equipment will be increasingly important,” noted Hiroshi Yasuhara.
Similarly, the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics claimed the job market for CEs was rapidly growing. The most recent estimates from the bureau claim there are of the more than 15,000 clinical engineers currently in the U.S. job market, the median wage is close to $40 per hour.