Responsibilities
The number of devices and the equipment value supported per full-time equivalent employee (FTE) are shown in Figures 15-6 and 15-7, respectively. Technical personnel in Australia support the largest number of devices, followed by Western Europe and North America. In the first four regions, FTE support between 550 and 600 devices. In the Nordic countries and North America, however, the highest equipment value supported per FTE is found. The highest numbers of devices supported per hospital bed are observed in North America, the Nordic countries, and Australia (Figure 15-8).
Generally, CEDs in small hospitals support medical devices of lower value and of smaller number. Although there are some exceptions, hospital size has always been considered to be directly correlated with the number of devices and equipment value supported by the CED, which is confirmed with the present survey as well. In the majority medium-sized hospitals in North America and the Nordic countries, as well as in the large hospitals in all regions, CEDs support more than 4000 devices, representing more than $20 million in equipment value. In some large hospitals, CEDs support even more than 10000 devices. More than half of the large hospitals in North America, the Nordic countries, and Western Europe support equipment valued at more than $40 million. Therefore, in terms of absolute number of devices and equipment value supported by the CEDs, a remarkable increase is observed since the previous survey. However, it is important to note that the technology base in the hospitals in many cases includes equipment not supported by the CEDs. Table 15-4 summarizes data on this, for hospitals with a separate department. In some cases, the departments support all equipment in the hospitals, and on average they have taken this responsibility to quite a high level. In Latin America this process is still not well established.