A Profile of the Clinical Engineering Department at St.Vincent's University Hospital. Elm Park, Dublin 4.

A brief history

The Clinical Engineering department in St Vincent's University Hospital grew from what was formerly known as Biomedical Engineering and was originally the department of Medical Electronics.

In the late 1960's two electronic technicians were employed by the Irish Sisters of Charity at St Vincent's Hospital on the green, They provided an in-house service on all electronic equipment. From the time the department was set up, the technicians provided cover in all departments within the hospital, from Accident and Emergency to X-ray. After the move from the Green in 1970 to the present facility at Elm Park, Richard Bergin and Stephen McGrath joined the department. John Bernard joined them a year later. They provided a planned preventative maintenance programme and breakdown service on most of the clinically applied medical equipment. These men with Tony Enright in the Richmond Hospital and Charlie O'Neill in Baggot St Hospital were the pioneers of Medical Electronics /Clinical Engineering in Ireland.

The Department To-Day

Clinical engineering Forms part of the Department of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering under the leadership of Dr. Michael Casey PhD.

The Staff

The clinical engineering department is made up of one chief clinical engineering technician, one principal clinical engineering technician and four senior clinical engineering technicians who each specialise in different areas. However all clinical engineers cover all departments and the wards.
• Tom Smyth Chief Clinical Engineering Technician, (Theatre) is responsible for the management of the clinical department.
• Richard Bergin Principal Clinical Engineering Technician, (ICU, St Brigids Liver unit) and is workshop supervisor.

Senior Clinical Engineering Technicians:

• Stephen Mc Grath, (Cardiology, CCU and A&E)
• Patrick Pentony,( Diagnostic imaging, Laboratory and ERC)
• Derek Farrell,(Theatre, Endoscopy and Ventilation)
• Frank Kelly, (Dialysis & Physiotherapy)

The Role

The role of clinical engineering is wide and varied, covering many disciplines of engineering and science, Electronic, Electrical, Mechanical, Hydraulic, Pneumatic, Medical gas systems, Optics, Imaging, Physics, Chemistry, with an understanding of the clinical application of such equipment.

Engineering

Although the role of Clinical Engineering has evolved over the years the department continues to provide planned preventative maintenance (PPM's ), a breakdown service and electrical safety tests.

Technical/Administration

The Clinical engineering technician is also involved in the development of specifications for the replacement or purchasing of new equipment, the monitoring of contracts from companies who provide services to the hospital and the evaluation of equipment on trial.

Education and Training

Clinical engineering technicians in the department are involved in the training of nursing , medical, and paramedical staff in the use of medical equipment and computer aided programmes on equipment.

Administration and Record Keeping

As part of the recommendations from the Department of Health and Children, where possible, traceable records of service carried out on equipment by in house engineers or companies must be maintained. In SVUH we also keep records of equipment performance, including flow & occlusions tests of infusion devices , electrical safety test records, ultrasound performance, certified results on water analysis.

The Future

Exciting times lie ahead with a £174 million project of hospital development underway. The building of new Operating Theatres, Intensive Care Unit, High Dependency Unit, Accident and Emergency, Out Patients Department Diagnostic Imaging (PACS), Psychiatric Unit, Pathology, Dialysis Unit and refurbishment of existing facilities over the next fours year will provide many challenges to the department.

The exchange of trusteeship of St Michael's Hospital, Dun Laoghaire together with the development of the East Coast Regional Health Authority will provide further opportunities for the provision of clinical engineering services.

Tom Smyth