Biomedical Engineering in Health Care - Potential Versus Reality

Although we have heard a great deal about the potential of biomedical engineering in health care, utilization of engineering and technology in the health care field has not progressed as expected. Reasons for this situation are presented and they include the points of view in industry, engineering and the medical community. Expanded and successful use of clinical engineers in health care institutions, the development of relevant educational curricula and a continuum of medical engineering education, as well as early involvement of biomedical engineering in the planning of health care delivery at Federal, State and district levels, could expedite the engineering medical interaction.