Analysis of the impact of medical technology assessment subjects on BME curricula.

This paper presents and analyzes the factors that have arisen on the implementation of the medical technology assessment and management courses, and the academic methodologies used to deal with them. Five courses that cover topics as Technology Management, Health Economics, Quality Assessment, Innovation and Entrepreneurship were designed as electives for BME curriculum and have been taught for the last two years. The activities carried out within the courses are described and their impact on the comprehension of the course contents are presented. Also, several elements and factors pertaining to the teaching-learning process are discussed. Future perspectives for the students that follow this sub-specialty branch of the BME curriculum are presented.

Imaging facilities for basic medical units: a case in the state of Guerrero, Mexico.

This work presents the methodology to design a small imaging unit in a small regional hospital that takes into account the real imaging needs in the region regardless of current administrative guidelines. The situation of the imaging facilities in Mexico's states is studied and compared with other countries, and a project plan is designed for the specific state (Guerrero) where the clinic is to be located. The proposal includes the acquisition of a basic suite of modalities that include an ultrasound system, a mammography unit, and a conventional X-ray system in addition to a CT system that is not available anywhere within the state. The system should be primarily digital and should incorporate a simple picture archiving and communications system that can be the basis of a future telemedicine unit. The conclusion of this study also proposes changes in the segmented and pyramidal structure of the Mexican health system in order to provide higher quality care at the lower level, to reduce bottlenecks, and to provide higher quality health care near the patient's home.

Knowledge network for medical technology management in Mexico.

OBJECTIVES: The role of biomedical engineers (BMEs) has changed widely over the years, from managing a group of technicians to the planning of large installations and the management of medical technology countrywide. As the technology has advanced, the competence of BMEs has been challenged because it is no longer possible to be an expert in every component of the technology involved in running a hospital. Our approach has been to form a network of professionals that are experts in different fields related to medical technology, where work is coordinated to provide high quality services at the planning and execution stages of projects related to medical technology. METHODS: A study of the procedures involved in the procurement of medical technology has been carried out over the years. These experiences have been compared with several case studies where the approach to problem solving in this area has been multidisciplinary. Planning and execution phases of projects involving medical technology management have been identified. RESULTS: After several instances of collaboration among experts from different fields, a network for management of healthcare technology has been formed at our institution that incorporates the experience from different departments that were dealing separately with projects involving medical technology. CONCLUSIONS: This network has led us to propose this approach to solve medical technology management projects, where the strengths of each subgroup complement each other. This structure will lead to a more integrated approach to healthcare technology management and will ensure higher quality solutions.

Methodology for the design of a PACS in a small provincial hospital.

This paper describes the design and implantation issues for a Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) in a 60-bed provincial hospital. Considerations such as the state of the imaging equipment, preventive maintenance, use and misuse of the equipment and the difficulties regarding migration to an all-digital imaging unit are discussed, as well as the criteria for the selection of the imaging modalities. Finally a design is proposed with four imaging modalities that use open-source database and display workstations. The system is currently under evaluation for possible reproduction in as many as 60 small clinics and hospitals throughout the country.

Analysis of the medical imaging services at three hospitals of the Mexican National Health System.

We present a study on the quality of operation and the characteristics of the medical imaging equipment in three specialty hospitals of the Mexican Health System. Six month residencies were carried out in order to better understand the problems and internal functioning of the three imaging departments. The kinds of equipment, the types of equipment failures and the internal operation of these services were analyzed. The results allow us to identify four factors that are linked to faults in the quality of the health care delivered to patients. The first factor is equipment obsolescence; the second is related to deficient preventive maintenance procedures and problems associated the supervising of external service providers. The third factor is derived from the equipment's (over) workload, which is indirectly tied to the age of the imaging modalities and the fourth factor is misuse of the equipment. The solutions to these problems include the modernization of the equipment and a better supervision by the clinical engineering department of all the processes involving the medical imaging services in each hospital. In addition to this, a special effort of the continuing education of personnel associated with medical imaging at all levels should be carried out.