An ‘Essential guide to medical equipment principles’ has been launched at EBME Expo to help new clinical engineers, junior nurses, medics and operating department practitioners (ODPs) understand the fundamentals of many of the standard medical devices they will encounter in a hospital environment.
In an exclusive interview at EBME Expo, leading EBME expert and the author of the essential guide, David Mulvey commented that he wanted to pass on his knowledge to the next generation, as he retires following a career that has spanned over 40 years.
Working in the commercial sector with leading names such as S&W and Vickers Medical, as well as his own company Artemis Medical, David has previously held roles as Senior Engineer, Technical Training Manager and Technical Director. David has run countless training courses and seminars not only in the UK but also in Europe.
In 1985, he set up a training school for Vickers Medical, in Rochdale, near Manchester, which he ran for around 13 years. The final 10 years of David's career were spent in the NHS as a Technical Training Manager and Senior Technical Support Engineer. During this time, David was able to develop and design training programmes that had real relevance for clinical engineers, particularly those just embarking on their careers. His training has gained a worthy reputation for a quality and practical approach to many complex clinical engineering subjects. Having been retired for the past five years, David has used this time to write this book to preserve and pass on his experience.
"As an engineer, it is vital to understand the clinical aspects of the medical equipment — ultimately, it is all about what the equipment does for the patient. It is great to have a good understanding of the electronics and the mechanics, but without an understanding of the clinical implications, patient safety can be put at risk. I have been called to Coroner's courts to give evidence when equipment has failed. It is clear there is a need for more accessible training tools to help provide a comprehensive understanding of the physiological and engineering principles underlying medical equipment," David commented.
"Many of the people who come into the industry come from the military, avionics or other technical areas, and not medical. When they walk into the EBME department on their first day and they're surrounded by all of this equipment, it can feel daunting. I wanted to write a book to address their potential gaps in knowledge, during the first few years. This book will give staff an understanding of the primary functions and the clinical implications of what they're seeing," he added.
Topics covered in the guide include:
- Heart and Circulation
- Patient Monitoring
- Defibrillation
- Respiratory System and Mechanical Ventilation
- Anaesthesia Principals and Terminology
- Anaesthesia Patient Gas Monitoring
- Assessment and Care of the Newborn
Order a copy of the guide at: https://www.routledge.com/Essential-Guide-to-Medical-Equipment-Principles/Mulvey/p/book/9781041003564
In this video, CSJ’s editor Louise Frampton, speaks to David Mulvey, Technical Author of The Essential Guide to Medical Equipment Principles, and Branda Cong, from the publisher Routledge (part of the Taylor and Francis Group).
