Summary
Medical devices and equipment are essential components of high-quality healthcare systems. Their applications range from basic procedures—such as measuring vital signs—to complex interventions like robotic surgery and magnetic resonance imaging. Globally, $500 billion USD is projected to have been spent on medical devices and equipment in 2024. While these technologies offer immense benefits, their safe, cost-effective, and sustainable use requires proper management, including appropriate operation, maintenance, and quality assurance.
PAHO recognizes that health authorities today face an overwhelming array of increasingly sophisticated and technologically complex medical devices. In addition to the broad range of options, decision-makers must also navigate challenges such as donated equipment, informed patients, limited post-sale technical support, and the need to deliver effective and affordable health services.
Through its Department of Innovation, Medicines, and Health Technologies (IMT), PAHO promotes and coordinates technical cooperation in the access and rational use of quality medicines and health technologies, including medical equipment. IMT undertakes several activities in order to build capacity in Member States through regional meetings, workshops, technical cooperation, information sharing, and training through online courses.
As part of these efforts, the PAHO Virtual Campus for Public Health offers training programs developed by IMT. These include courses on health technology assessment, planning and management, and technical training on medical devices. Basic training on medical devices and equipment is necessary in Member States for staff to understand device principles, application(s), patient safety issues, common problems and solutions, quality assurance, maintenance, and management of common technologies.
Introduction to Biomedical Technology is a self-paced virtual course consisting of four sequential modules designed to provide:
- A foundation in key concepts essential for understanding biomedical technology; and
- Practical knowledge of commonly used medical equipment, including basic patient care devices, diagnostic imaging systems, and advanced specialty equipment used in surgery, therapy, clinical laboratories, and medical device computer networks.
Learning Objectives
- Provide a basic understanding of medical and technical concepts, medical equipment principles, application and proper operation, patient safety issues, common problems and solutions, maintenance, and management of the technology.
- Provide a methodology for improving the safety and cost-effectiveness of common medical devices through a program of healthcare technology management.
- Help participants better communicate with other stakeholders involved with medical devices including clinical, administrative, and equipment vendors.
- Develop the enrollee’s interest and prepare them for further study and knowledge in medical device and equipment technology academically or via other courses.
- Promote the development of collaboration and networks in biomedical technology where knowledge and experience can be shared.
Audience
The projected audience will include technical and clinical healthcare staff with a background in medical equipment at a novice or intermediate level. This would include maintenance and technical staff, clinical staff working with medical equipment, and biomedical engineers and technicians who seek a more complete background in medical equipment. There may also be interest from procurement and administrators responsible for areas employing medical equipment.
Course modality
Self-learning course, free of charge, open to the public and without deadlines to complete it.
Duration
60 hours. The course is open and available in the VCPH. As it is a self-learning course, participants can choose when they are able to progress through the course.
Competencies
- The course provides the opportunity to achieve the following competencies:
Know the role, benefits, and issues related to common medical devices and equipment in healthcare. - Skillfully communicate with clinical staff, vendors, hospital managers, and biomedical engineers about a broad range of common medical devices and equipment regarding principles, proper application, safety, basic problem resolution, and care and maintenance.
- Apply basic techniques of medical device and equipment maintenance and troubleshooting.
- Apply course learning to improve the patient safety, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability of medical devices and equipment.
Student Evaluation and Grading
Quizzes
There will be a quiz after completion of a specific topic or group of topics.
Exams
At the end of each of the four course modules, there will be an exam.
The multiple choice, multiple answer, and true/false questions are automatically graded.
Course certificate
Participants who complete the 4 modules and fill out the Virtual Campus for Public Health (VCPH) Quality Survey will be able to download their certificate of course completion issued by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).