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The frequency of inspection of the authors' scheduled maintenance program was reviewed and modified, using the work of Fennigkoh (1989). This work extended to 2,700 devices located at four hospital sites supported by a regional service. These devices included all clinical equipment, including diagnostic imaging and renal dialysis. Review of the inspection frequencies was necessary as part of the quality assurance program and to ensure consistency between similar devices. Equipment was first evaluated according to four criteria to determine if it should be on the scheduled performance assurance program. These criteria included: equipment function, physical risk to patients, maintenance requirements, and incident or related history. The frequency of inspection of included devices was then assessed according to an algorithm that looked at device maintenance requirements and manufacturers' recommendations. Devices were scheduled for inspection once, twice or, in rare cases, four times per year. The quality of the inspection program was enhanced by a systematic review. As an added bonus, the required staffing resources to comply with the scheduled performance assurance declined by 29%.

Biomedical engineers have long seen that they have a role in the fields of equipment planning and technology assessment. This role has not been universally understood. Through sustained efforts we have shown that we can contribute to and should be involved in equipment planning. Efforts are now under way to demonstrate the need for and the role that biomedical engineering can play in technology assessment and ultimately in strategic planning. The paper examines the Canadian healthcare scene within the context of the Province of British Columbia, and more specifically the opportunities and challenges in the fields of technology management presented to an in-house biomedical engineering group at a hospital society in Greater Vancouver.