Clinical Engineering

The Regional Clinical Engineering Program provides efficient and effective management of medical equipment and technology in WRHA acute care hospitals and long term care facilities. This includes most electronic, electrical and surgical medical equipment and instruments. Some of the services provided include:

• Equipment planning
• Technical evaluation and assessment
• Pre-purchase consultation
• Incoming inspection
• Equipment and instrument repair
• Performance assurance and preventive maintenance (PA program)
• Modification
• Upgrading
• Custom design and fabrication
• Medical equipment and technology education
• Broad-based medical device technology consultation
• Incident investigation
• Hazard and recall notice distribution, tracking, and follow-up

Clinical Engineering (CE) staff work closely with medical, nursing, and paramedical personnel on a day to day basis, supporting patient care activities through medical equipment services. The primary interests of Clinical Engineering are to provide services that enable the safest, most cost-effective utilization of medical technology.

The tertiary hospitals have dedicated Clinical Engineering Departments, whose staff exclusively perform comprehensive medical equipment management functions, including some clinical laboratory and ultrasound equipment support.

The community hospitals have Facility Services Departments whose staff performs medical equipment management functions and support facility related electronic equipment, various clinical laboratory equipment, and life safety systems.

Clinical Engineering Program staff include professional engineers, electronic technologists and technicians, precision machinists, and support staff.