Productivity in clinical engineering.

There are various methods of computing productivity in Clinical Engineering. A simple algorithm based on time standards is presented in this paper. Duties required to support the inspection and repair functions and the time needed to perform them, as well as other functions provided by the Clinical Engineering Department, are discussed. The final "standards" presented in this paper may be applied to other facilities and other situations only with great caution. This study was performed on a certain complement of equipment and with a certain depth of testing. This paper should be read in its entirety to place the results reported in proper context. This is preliminary information, and an expanded data base of studies would be required before a universal standard, if indeed possible, could be adopted. This paper does, however, provide results comparable to other studies performed in recent years, and some consensus on typical inspection and repair time is emerging. Radiographic units, laboratory equipment, and various specialty items are not included.