Management of any health care device technology entails a cradle-to-grave responsibility.
Starting with needs assessment, it continues through evaluation, purchase, service,
and retirement. The discussion below pertains especially to the clinical engineering management
of general hospital devices used in the hospital. Beds, stretchers, and wheelchairs,
as well as many other general hospital devices, are used in extended care facilities,
nursing homes, and in home care settings and should be managed as well as those found
in the hospital (Dyro et al., 1996; Dyro, 1998).