J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 111(4): 216-219, 2010

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Feature topic

BURDEN SHARING WITH CO-MEDICAL PERSONNEL IN THE SURGICAL AREA: PRESENT AND FUTURE SITUATIONS. THE CLINICAL ENGINEER'S POSITION

It has been 22 years since clinical engineers first made their appearance as experts in medical equipment used to save patients' lives. At that time, legal revisions, ministerial ordinances, and regulations were established, with the final step awaiting a change in the medical environment. The pressing problem of a serious shortage of physicians is now apparent. The role of clinical engineers can be seen as providing one solution to this problem from the viewpoint of team medical treatment. A study is currently underway to determine how clinical engineers, who are co-medical members of the team, might also be expected to contribute a type of "new militant power" to the medical field.
In current surgical procedures, clinical engineers are necessary to operate various high-risk therapeutic equipment such as therapeutic surgical and life support devices. Clinical engineers work not only in the control of life support devices but also in expanded fields in perioperative care.
A revision of the clinical engineer's role in perioperative care and work guidelines is needed so that their fundamental strengths can promote such goals as improved medical safety and a reduction in the burden on physicians and other medical personnel.

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