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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

Technology assessment and biomedical engineering education.

Technology assessment is research that is intended to help decisionmakers deal with the development, acquisition and utilisation of healthcare technologies. Healthcare professionals now recognise the need for assessment information in decisionmaking. Among these professionals are biomedical and clinical engineers who need to manage technology assessment activities and use assessment information appropriately. It is imperative therefore that proper educational programmes be developed to prepare engineers for a broader role in healthcare. The paper elaborates on aspects of technology assessment and the need for training of engineers in specific concepts and principles.

Biomedical Engineering↗
PubMed1993

Clinical assessment of biomedical technology.

The rapid expansion of new, unproven, and often expensive biomedical technology requires controlled clinical assessment before widespread diffusion into clinical practice. The accuracy, reliability, and validity all need to be assessed in an unbiased manner to determine whether implementation is of benefit to the clinician and patient. This article briefly describes the methodology available to determine whether new technologies such as diagnostic imaging techniques may be of benefit in clinical practice.

Bias↗
PubMed1988

Update on assessment activities. United States perspective.

The purpose of this paper is to present an update on biomedical technology assessment activities from a United States perspective. In 1985, I described in detail (a) a primary vehicle for technology assessment--the Consensus Development Program (CDP) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)--and also discussed, in a second paper, (b) the transfer of consensus-enhanced scientific information and some of its impact on U.S. medical practice. Here, I focus on what has transpired during the past year: the changes in the climate in which U.S. technology assessment efforts are being conducted, the consequences of these changes, and the challenges that they pose for all concerned with the provision of quality health care. The first part of this paper centers on the broader framework within which technology assessment plays a role in the United States. Later, it addresses the specific technology assessment and transfer activities in which the NIH is engaged.

Consensus Statements as Topic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Human tissue research in the genomic era of medicine: balancing individual and societal interests.

Advances in DNA sequencing technology and in our understanding of the human genome are ushering in a new era of genomic medicine, one with dramatic potential to not only benefit society through research involving human tissue, but also to cause economic or psychosocial harms to tissue donors and their families. This delicate situation requires that the needs of tissue donors be carefully considered and balanced with those of the medical research community, especially on issues concerning confidentiality, consent, and compensation. We analyzed the tensions between tissue donors and researchers over the research use of human tissue. We also reviewed several approaches, including the establishment of tissue-trustee infrastructures at academic medical centers, aimed at achieving a more equitable balance between individual donor protection and societal benefits derived from tissue-based research. Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:3377-3384.

Academic Medical Centers↗
PubMed1992

High cost technology in health care: a benefit or a burden?

The influence of high cost technology goes beyond its consequences for the selected patient groups that benefit from its application. Past and future technological developments have a variety of social, economic and ethical implications which have to be taken into account when balancing its costs and benefits to society. Departing from an economic perspective we describe a number of mechanisms underlying the emergence of high cost technology which help us to understand some of the characteristics of high cost technology, such as its focus on quality enhancement rather than on economy. To assess the actual performance of high cost technology in terms of efficiency and equity is difficult as there may be debate about the perspective guiding such assessment and as there still is scarce information on high cost technology in terms of these economic indicators. The increasing technological opportunities have triggered a wider debate on the desired evolution of our health care systems. In some countries there is a tendency to diminish government involvement in health care and emphasize private (for profit) enterprise as a reaction to not being able to finance all new high cost technology. The risks of such strategies are discussed briefly. We conclude that the main actors in health care should adjust their behaviour in order to accomplish the introduction of more cost-effective technologies and to achieve a more socially efficient distribution of their benefits.

Biomedical Research↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of the Internet in scanning the horizon for new and emerging health technologies: a survey of agencies involved in horizon scanning.

BACKGROUND: A number of countries worldwide have structured horizon scanning systems which provide timely information on the impact of new health technologies to decision makers in health care. In general, the agencies that are responsible for horizon scanning have limited resources in terms of budget and staff. In contrast, the number of new and emerging health technologies, i.e. pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and medical and surgical procedures, is growing rapidly. This requires the Horizon Scanning Systems (HSSs) to devise efficient procedures for identification of new health technologies. The role of the Internet for this purpose has as yet not been documented. OBJECTIVE: To describe and analyse how the Internet is used by horizon scanning systems to systematically identify new health technologies. METHODS: A questionnaire was developed and distributed among 10 agencies known to work within this specific area. The questionnaire specifically focussed on type of sites scanned, frequency of scanning, and importance of a site for the identification of a new health technology. RESULTS: A 100% response rate was obtained. Seven out of 10 agencies used the Internet to systematically identify new health technologies, of which 6 provided complete information. A total of 110 web sites were scanned by these 6 agencies. The number of sites scanned per agency ranged from 11 to 27. Most sites were scanned weekly (41%) or monthly (33%). Thirty-one percent (31%) of the total number of sites was considered as highly important. The agencies spent at least 2 hours a week and at most 8 hours per week scanning the Internet. Although each agency's remit differed somewhat in scope, on average the same types of sites were scanned. These include sites from regulatory agencies, sites with information on new drugs or new devices, and sites with news from newswires. However, within these types there was not much correlation between the individual sites that agencies judged important to scan. CONCLUSION: The use of the Internet for identifying new health technologies is increasing in the majority of horizon scanning systems around the world. At the same time there is considerable variation between individual agencies in their approach to this source of information. This can only be partially explained by differences in scope of scanning activities of the individual agencies. A coordinated effort to develop Internet search strategies for either different categories of health technologies or different clinical specialties may improve efficiency and quality of scanning in terms of the number of potentially relevant technologies identified.

Biomedical Technology↗
PubMed1990

Financing the correct rate of growth of medical technology.

This article suggests ways to preserve innovation while partially restraining the impressive growth rate in new medical technology. Health care will soon consume 12 percent of GNP. There is a wide range of opinions as to whether medical technology is a major or minor source of rising health care expenditures. Given our current fiscal problems, health care providers will be in direct competition with education and other domestic programs for a limited supply of R&D funds. More funding will have to come from the private sector. The challenge for prudent buyers of health care services is to control costs without eroding the biomedical capacity of the nation.

Diffusion of Innovation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The role of appropriate medical technology procurement and user maintenance instructions in developing countries.

Reports bear witness that a significant proportion of all healthcare equipment in developing countries is not in use. There are many and varied reasons this, including inappropriateness or a lack of basic maintenance. This report addresses these issues, including guidelines for procurement staff and end-users and a bibliography. Examples of the considerations involved are given in the specialties of therapy oxygenation, laboratory tests and solar-powered equipment.

Biomedical Engineering↗