Clinical engineering: a prospectus

The future of clinical engineering in the health care field is viewed against trends in health care technological advances, economics, demographics, and patterns of illness. A historical overview and a look at the current state of affairs of clinical engineering are presented. The multidisciplinary role of the clinical engineer is examined in the context of the widely varying nature of health care organizations employing clinical engineers. Examples of organizational structures into which clinical engineers place themselves or are placed are reviewed. National and international aspects are examined. It is suggested that significant shifts in the duties and responsibilities and, especially, the attitudes of clinical engineers must occur for the profession to survive. Several professional organizations seek to provide a home for CEs, yet dissatisfaction that needs are not met continues to exist