How Clinical Engineering is improving safety and efficiency in hospitals

In a world where technology advances by leaps and bounds and hospitals strive to provide safe and efficient healthcare, clinical engineering has become an essential component in ensuring patient well-being and optimal functioning of medical equipment.
It was around 1960 and 1970 when the need for a discipline that combined engineering with medical care was recognized. During this time, technological advances in medicine began to accelerate, giving way to an ever-evolving discipline whose primary goal is to improve safety and efficiency in hospitals.
Advances are transformed into standards and the standards are the starting point where some of the latest advances occur, some of them are general areas or aspects where we try to improve safety and efficiency in hospitals.
Objectives pursued in the field of medical care:
Monitoring and quality control: periodic inspections, performance tests and preventive maintenance, as well as monitoring of device safety and effectiveness records. These measures help prevent unexpected breakdowns and ensure that the equipment is ready for use when needed.
Medical Information Systems Integration: Electronic health records and real-time monitoring systems improve efficiency in managing clinical data, enabling quick access to pertinent information and streamlining medical decision-making.
Optimization of hospital infrastructures: Planning and design of hospital infrastructures, considering aspects such as equipment distribution, communication networks and energy supply.
By taking these aspects into account right from the initial stages of building or renovating a hospital, you get better organization, operational efficiency and response capacity in emergency situations.
Technological Breakthroughs: Clinical engineering drives the research and development of new medical technologies and devices. This includes advances in areas such as telemedicine, surgical robotics, imaging systems and remote patient monitoring. These innovations improve the accuracy of diagnoses, enable more effective treatments and facilitate remote medical assistance.

These objectives have been the compass that has led humanity to constantly want to improve the way medicine in general works, below we will present specific cases or concrete examples that illustrate the improvements in terms of safety and efficiency in hospitals. These examples are real situations or specific advances that demonstrate how improvements are implemented in medical practice to achieve safer and more efficient care.

Early warning systems: Early warning systems have been developed that constantly monitor patients' vital signs, alerting medical personnel to any abnormalities. This helps prevent complications and provide timely treatment.
Labeling and Tracking Technology: Through the use of labeling and tracking technology, clinical engineering has improved the tracking of drugs, samples, and equipment in hospitals. This reduces errors and facilitates efficient resource management.
Bioactive implants: prosthetic joints and electrical stimulation devices, which improve the quality of life and the ability to lead a normal life.
Artificial Intelligence in Diagnosis: The application of artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques is fundamentally transforming the world and, promisingly, has brought about significant improvements in medical diagnosis as well. These systems can analyze large amounts of clinical data and help doctors make more accurate and faster decisions and even do predictive analysis.

The demand for professionals trained in health technology assessment is increasing. Graduates of this program are prepared to critically analyze and evaluate the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of medical technologies, enabling them to contribute to informed decision-making about the acquisition and implementation of new devices and systems.

These professionals are essential to drive innovation, improve efficiency and ensure safety in the healthcare environment, providing technological solutions that benefit patients, healthcare professionals and the wider sector.
Taking into account this constant demand, the Master's Degree Program in Biomedical Engineering with emphasis in Clinical Engineering was created, an exceptional opportunity for those engineers and health science professionals who wish to boost their career in the field of biomedical engineering and technology management. . This program is designed for individuals who are passionate about addressing healthcare area challenges and improving the quality of life of the population. Through its interdisciplinary and collaborative approach, students will have the opportunity to work in multidisciplinary teams, integrating knowledge in engineering and health sciences to develop innovative solutions.
Furthermore, the master offers the opportunity to carry out internships in national or international research centres, which will allow students to gain practical experience and expand their professional network. Our laboratories and relationship with the GIBEC research group, with an A1 classification in MINCIENCIAS, provide a conducive environment to carry out cutting-edge research and contribute to the advancement of biomedical engineering.
Graduates will be prepared to work as entrepreneurs, consultants or professionals in various health-related institutions and organizations. They may work in health science and technology research institutes, health sector companies developing technologies and related services, government bodies tasked with regulating and controlling health services, among others.
Furthermore, the educational prestige of VIA University supports the quality of the training received and increases job opportunities for graduates.
If you are a motivated professional interested in contributing to the advancement of biomedical engineering and want to keep up to date in an ever-changing field, this master's degree is the ideal option to relaunch your career and make a difference in the health field.