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Results for “Technology Assessment, Biomedical”

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At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

The ethics of allocation of scarce health care resources: a view from the centre.

Resource allocation is a central part of the decision-making process in any health care system. Resources have always been finite, thus the ethical issues raised are not new. The debate is now more open, and there is greater public awareness of the issues. It is increasingly recognised that it is the technology which determines resources. The ethical issues involved are often conflicting and relate to issues of individual rights and community benefits. One central feature of resource allocation is the basing of decisions on the outcomes of health care and on their subsequent economic evaluation. The knowledge base is therefore of great importance as is the audit of results of clinical treatment. Public involvement is seen as an integral part of this process. For all parts of the process, better methodologies are required.

Biomedical Research↗
PubMed1991

Objective health care technology evaluation--it isn't easy.

Although creation of sophisticated technologies in health care has been one of the most significant social developments of the last decades, evaluation of the health effects is essential to avoid misallocation of resources. Evaluation today depends on various scientific tools: epidemiologic methods provide benchmarks for measuring efficacy; biomedical models define subgroups for whom an intervention is worthwhile. Standardized rules for the conduct of clinical trials and statistical analysis help assure replicability and strive for objectivity. An economic bottom line assesses cost effectiveness in terms of life years saved or improved quality of life. Subjective biases that come from the socioeconomic context in which assessments are embedded should be recognized and defused.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1993

Developing and delivering new medical technologies: issues beyond access.

The articles in this issue illuminate psychosocial issues raised by the development and delivery of new medical technologies. Five kinds of questions surface repeatedly: questions about a technology's purpose(s), the value judgments it presumes, the locus of its control, the external forces that drive it, and its long-term social risks. These questions take the discussion of new technologies beyond the challenge of improving access to their benefits. They also raise issues that will become increasingly important as the capabilities of medical technology expand. For example, they suggest research questions for three other emerging medical technologies: use of biosynthetic growth hormone to treat short stature in hormonally normal children, genetic tests on fetal cells from the circulating maternal blood, and development of clinically reliable biomarkers of the aging process. Part Three of this issue provides a theoretical basis for encouraging psychosocial perspectives in this area, by illustrating the central role that "robust," multifaceted analysis has come to play within the methods of bioethics.

Aging↗
PubMed1997

Biomedical ethics and the biomedical engineer: a review.

Biomedical engineering is responsible for many of the dramatic advances in modern medicine. This has resulted in improved medical care and better quality of life for patients. However, biomedical technology has also contributed to new ethical dilemmas and has challenged some of our moral values. Bioengineers often lack adequate training in facing these moral and ethical problems. These include conflicts of interest, allocation of scarce resources, research misconduct, animal experimentation, and clinical trials for new medical devices. This paper is a compilation of our previous published papers on these topics, and it summarizes many complex ethical issues that a bioengineer may face during his or her research career or professional practice. The need for ethics training in the education of a bioengineering student is emphasized. We also advocate the adoption of a code of ethics for bioengineers.

Animal Testing Alternatives↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Infusion pump analyzers.

Infusion pump analyzers are test devices that aid in determining the performance of infusion pumps. These devices perform simple flow tests, and in some instances volume and occlusion pressure tests as well, that otherwise would be performed using burettes or other calibrated glassware, balances, timers, and pressure meters or gauges. We evaluated five models from four different suppliers, focusing primarily on performance and human factors design. Three units were rated Acceptable, and two were rated Acceptable--Not Recommended because of performance limitations and, for one of the units, poor human factors. This Evaluation includes an overview of infusion pump analyzer technology and a Selection Guide detailing the factors that facilities should consider when purchasing an infusion pump analyzer. In addition, a supplementary article discusses recertification systems, which are designed for testing home-use pumps before use on each new patient. Another supplementary article deals with trumpet curves, a capability that may have limited value for most users.

Biomedical Engineering↗
PubMed1993

Technology assessment in healthcare: a means for pursuing the goals of biomedical engineering.

The goals of biomedical engineering include the improvement of health and life quality of mankind. However, the contribution of biomedical engineering to those worthy ends must be more clearly related. Biomedical engineers should become more active in demonstrating to policymakers and other parties in healthcare the value of the contributions of healthcare technology. Technology assessment (TA) is a form of investigation designed to identify and evaluate the implications of technologies so as to inform policymaking. Among the important trends in TA that should be of special interest to biomedical engineers are the increasingly higher methodological standards for accepting evidence from clinical investigations, and the use of quality-of-life measures for determining how technologies affect people's lives.

Biomedical Engineering↗
PubMed1997

Medical equipment planning.

Healthcare providers worldwide are facing an increasingly competitive environment and, in response, are downsizing to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Providers that are unable or unwilling to become more efficient will close. To stay in business, healthcare institutions must consider the cost of medical equipment and plan accordingly. Policies based on sound principles and experience prevent costly and/or harmful mistakes. In this article, we discuss the different phases of equipment planning, detail some of the relevant concepts and terminology, describe how clinical engineers can become involved, and highlight ECRI resources available to those carrying out the process. Whether you are a clinical engineer facing downsizing and consolidation, a healthcare administrator with a mandate to rein in the costs of technology, or a minister of health facing the task of building or maintaining a nation's healthcare infrastructure, this article will help you seize opportunities and meet challenges.

Biomedical Engineering↗