1

Human resources as an important factor in the

management of medical equipment: Institutions
involved and their expertise in Peru
1
1
in
Leopoldo Yábar Escribanel, Daniel Peru
1
García 1
Romero, Emilio Villavicencio Chamorro
Universidad Tecnológica del Perú, Facultad de Ingeniería Electrónica y Mecatrónica, Centro de
Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería, Grupo de I&D en Ingeniería Biomédica, Lima, Perú,
uicl_gts@yahoo.es, danelektronik@yahoo.es

uicl_gts@yahoo.es,
Abstract-The lack of coordination, dbioelectronica@yahoo.com.ar
regulation, natural that demand for these services can be unlimited,
supervision on the Ministry of Health and Ministry of while available resources are limited. The contrast of these
Education means that graduates are not professionals in two concepts is that determines the need for real
tune with the real needs of the health in our country, management, this means efficient and effective mobilization
neither itself investigate and develop technologies for of all resources involved in health care: human resources,
health medical equipment according to the technological resources and financial resources.
epidemiological profile, and less have medical
equipment industry. We must bear in mind that the II. METHODOLOGY
generation of the delivery of health services in a health
Service delivery in health every day becomes more
identifies three important factors: medical Supplies,
dependent on health technologies. From the moment that
equipments and human resources. All human resources
develops technology to their availability in the market,
of a health establishment have the responsibility to plan,
incorporation, use and management of a run a series of steps
acquire, operate, manage and evaluate the technologies
which are involved in many sectors. Consequently, health
in the medical team regarding a product or service that
technologies, we can place them in three areas: Technology
is applicable to the care of patient care. The existing
Development in Health (outside the hospital setting),
curriculum for these professionals does not provide
Inclusion of Technology in Health (within the hospital
basic and much less specialized in the management of
setting) [1], Management of Technology in Health (inside
medical equipment. These skills are acquired in a
disorderly manner and partially through the experience and outside the hospital). The latter should carry out
of fieldwork, with repercussions that the medical team properly all the processes of incorporation of the
was not managed and evaluated according to the actual technology, which means working in a coordinated,
needs of the service, nor ensure its sustainability, which structured and functional with all the actors associated with
ensures quality and efficiency of patient care service. it. Thus we can mention that in the management of health
Accordingly, the publication seeks to make a technology involves the following processes: strategic
contribution to human resource training in the technology planning, financing, investment, technology
management of medical equipment, which is part of a budget, managing the technology itself, the acquisition of
series of proposals that were implemented as the basis technology, risk management and quality improvement as
for the creation of the first unit of clinical engineering in well as training of human resources. It is noteworthy that in
a Peru hospital. It is further intended that this proposal the development, integration and management of health
is applied to the Ministry of Health in our country, to technology in a process that stands out most is the training
strengthen and sustain the development, integration, of specialized human resources which ensures compliance
and management of medical equipment in health and sustainability of the other processes. In this sense in
facilities. most industrialized countries, the development, integration
Keywords-Epidemiological Profile, Human Resources, and management of technology in health work in perfect
Clinical Engineering coordination, this means the technology needs required by
the health facilities are supplied by industry, while in our
I. INTRODUCTION country has been effective coordination between needs and
In view of its size provides a health service to help availability of appropriate technologies.
people prevent illnesses, treat and rehabilitate patients, raise A. Current situation: countries of the region and Peru
the quality and professional conduct investigations, among
We must emphasize that in countries like Brazil, Cuba
other activities. This variety of activities requires an
and Mexico have policies aimed at training human
adequate administrative support, human, economic,
resources in the management of medical equipment. This
regulatory, clinical, ethical and social. For this reason, the
has enabled these countries have advances in research and
health care is regarded as one of the most complex both in
development, and industrialization and its proper
terms of architecture, engineering, facilities, equipment, and
management. In the specific case for the training of human
services, technology and administration. The central goal of
resources, as an example we can mention that the Brazilian
any health establishment is the provision of services with
government in attempting to deal with all problems related
the highest quality care to the user (patient). Moreover, it is
 2

to medical equipment, has developed various projects 80

ranging from staff training to operate in the area health to 70 Profesionales sin

% en Recursos Humanos
75 Especializacion
the development of national technical standards for medical
60
equipment. In this regard, since 1990 the Ministry of Health
of Brazil began to invest $ 2 million for the establishment 50 Formacion Tecnica
Basica No
and maintenance of training programs for staff in 40 Especializada
management of medical equipment, these programs were in 30 Formacion Emperica
charge of training entities of the Ministry of Health of y Bajo Nivel de
Brazil, as well as others related to the health sector [2]. 20 escolaridad
19
This situation is contrary to the health of the public sector 10
6
of Peru, where there is a lack of total and absolute 0
A B C
dependence on the introduction of technologies related to
Tipos de Formacion
medical facilities and absence of their management.
Furthermore, it has not been accompanied by a development Fig. 3. % Of human resources related to medical equipment in health
and linking human resource trained in the management of facilities
medical equipment. No one has been coordination between
relevant human resource training and health facilities, which B. Issue
can supply the demands and occupational profiles required
The most obvious problem that has been identified is the
in this field. This has led to a high rate of deterioration and
lack of coordinating cross between the Ministry of Health
obsolescence of medical equipment that are in health [3].
and Ministry of Education to undertake joint actions to
Following are graphs derived from the last "Diagnosis
define and update the profiles of the occupational health
System Maintenance" Program for Strengthening Health.
personnel in accordance with the requirements or needs of
Lima - Peru, in the year 1998 by Ministry of Health.
the population and geographic area. This lack of
coordination stems from the fact that educational
CAMAS MINSA 6208, institutions are not regulated or supervised, which in turn
ESTABLECIMIENTO S DE SALUD 17% means that graduates are not professionals in tune with the
MANTENIMIENTO DE CAMAS real needs of health [4]. The lack of adequately trained
2234, human resources in the management of medical equipment
has led to the interior of the health of our country as follows
6% [5], referring to the medical equipment:

 Inadequate distribution with respect to the needs

required by the health services.
27922,  Sub use and utilization.
77%  High percentage of failures caused by the user.
Fig. 1. Distribution of beds and their maintenance.  Higher percentages of money to buy as opposed to
domestic investment in maintenance.
JEFES  Inadequate physical inventory which resulted in the
101, loss of them.
PERSO NAL ADMINISTRATIVO
5%
TÉCNICO S  Existence of large number of companies providing
138, goods and services without distinction of any kind.
6%  High costs offered by firms.
 High maintenance costs for services provided by third
1995,
parties.
89%
 Lack of quality of services by service providers.
 High response times, both by internal staff unit of the
hospital and maintenance service companies.

Fig. 2. Distribution of maintenance personnel.

C. Proposal
In this sense, the existence of health technologies for the
medical equipment in health necessarily require trained
manpower in the medical management of Equitable. Thus
both inputs and components may ensure the production of
health services provided to patients.

 Plant Equipment
 Facilities
 Medical
equipment
 Médical supplies
 Medications Human Patient
care
resources
services
(RRHH) provided
 Medical
procedures
 Information
 Organizational
systems
Fig. 4. Health technologies and human resources for the production of
the service provided to patient care.
Also, the complexity and development of technologies
relating to Health Medical equipment increases every day
due to technological innovations, which represent a benefit
in providing services to the patient, but it is a risk but
human resources trained in the management of medical
equipment. Here are the policies, strategies, objectives and
key action on the proposal [6]:
 Decentralized Policies
 Evaluate ongoing occupational profiles.
 Plan the training and distribution of human resources.
[7].
 Evaluate on a regular basis the staff trained.
 Develop a system of continuous and sustained training.
 Develop processes for technical assistance.
 Promote research and development.
 Prove to the trained human resources.
 Strategies
 The Ministry of Health through the Institute of Human
Resource Development and its relevant bodies, to
exercise their stewardship over the powers and
functions as assigned in the Health Act No. 27657,
which established the "analysis, regulation, evaluation,
control, design, development, implementation,
dissemination, training, assignment, supervision,
support, direction and standards in the area of research,
education and training of human resources in the health
sector [8].
 Institutions related to the training of human resources
to carry out coordination with the Ministry of
Education and the Ministry of Labor in order to take
joint actions to define and update the profiles of the
occupational health sector human resources and their
allocation and organizational functional organigrammes
of health.
 Institutions related to human resources training
conducted coordinated and concerted coordination with
all agencies of the Ministry of Health, Hospitals and
Health Directorate in the areas of welfare,
administrative and technical-operational management
which are now responsible for planning, purchase,
operation, management and evaluation of a health
technology for medical devices [9].
3
 Institutions related to the training of human resources
in coordination with the National Coordinated
Decentralized Health and foster strategic alliances and
concerted permanent intra-sectoral and inter-sectoral
bodies of the Ministry of Health, Social Health
Insurance (ESSALUD), Health of armed forces and
police, private clinics, companies and marketing
providers of goods and services, companies providing
health service, schools, nongovernmental organizations,
scientific organizations, pharmaceutical.
 Objectives
 Develop agreements with all areas involved in the
Ministry of Health, Hospitals and Health Directorate,
with the purpose of knowing their real needs [7].
 Develop a situational analysis of the medical
equipment.
 Define the occupational profiles according to the needs
of the Ministry of Health.
 Develop proposal for training and standardized
training.
 Evaluate and regulate aspects of the quality of Human
Resources.
 Evaluate whether the curriculum of the programs meet
the needs of the population.
 Short-term actions:
Its aim is to raise awareness and educate about the
meaning of management of medical equipment and what are
their contributions to improving health care. Example:
Refresher Courses and Workshops Introductory and
Technical Assistance and decentralized peripheral.
 Medium-term Actions:
Its aim is to provide intermediate and advanced
knowledge in the management of medical equipment and its
integration with the hospital administration. Example:
Continuing Education Programs, Courses Specialization.
 Long-term Actions:
Its aim is to provide advanced knowledge and will be
oriented to the research, development and management of
medical equipment. Example: Diploma, Masters, PhD.
These actions are aimed at human resources in the areas of
care, administrative, technical and operational management,
and obtaining practical experience by training in health.
III. RESULTS
 The establishment of policies, strategies, objectives and
actions in the training of human resources for the
management of medical equipment, has allowed
countries like Brazil, Cuba and Mexico produce visible
results and in research and development, as well as in
Industry, and in the management of medical equipment.
Definitely the development of these activities have
impacted positively on the provision of health services
in the economic, social, and quality of service provided

to patients, and the quality of trained human resources
for health in those countries. Consequently, these
results are possible to be achieved by our country and it
is unrealistic to aspire to obtain them, if you take the
decisions necessary to implement this proposal. In
contrast to our country in 10 years has only been
achieved as follows [9]:
 Academic Area: various groups of research and
development (active), several elective courses
(active) 01 Degree (not active), diploma (not active),
01 master (active).
 Area working in clinical engineering unit 01 (active),
01 Institute of Management Technology (active).
Doctorados 0 no Brasil”. Sao Paulo – Brasil, 1997.
Post-Grado
Maestrías 1 División de Desarrollo de Sistemas y Servicios de Salud. “Plan
Diplomaturas 1
Niveles Académicos
Cursos 0
Cursos
9
Pre-Grado
Electivos
Licenciatura 1 necesarias. “Escenarios alternativos de futuro en Salud y modelo
Carrera 0 Metodología y presentación de resultados de estudio”. Lima –
Técnico
cursos 3 [5] L. Yabar & at, Instituto de Desarrollo de Recursos Humanos,
Carrera 0 Hospitales Públicos del Perú”. XVIII Congreso Brasileiro de
% Producción en los últimos 10 años
Fig. 5. Statistics for the past 10 years academic
It should be noted that it has reached more efforts should
be personalized as the initiative of any institution interested
in the subject. Also, it should be noted that what was
achieved in most cases is only the quantity, since if we
evaluate the contents of each of these areas may find
deficiencies that have not been corrected. Missing also
strengthen and promote other strategic areas as very
important.
IV. DISCUSSION
The success of this proposal for human resources training
in the management of medical equipment will depend on
how you perform and use the strategies here raised for their
implementation. In this sense we believe that the best
strategy is that you make changes phased in order to obtain
results in the short, medium and long term, through the
actions outlined above. Furthermore, it should be noted that
these actions must be framed in an Inter - Ministerial Health
- Education to provide tools of regulation and control over
public and private institutions engaged in training of human
resources management medical equipment, in order to align
with the objectives outlined above [10].
V. CONCLUSIONS
This proposal would alleviate the problems presented by the
technologies themselves, and mainly decrease the risks to
patients who are in contact with them, and also with the
4
nursing staff that handles. It will strengthen and encourage
the development, integration and management of medical
equipment through the training of human resources at the
Ministry of Health and supported with specialized programs
in order to raise the quality of service provided to patients
and accompanied efficient economic resource.
REFERENCES
[1] L. Lara, Departamento de Tecnología de Procesos Biológicos y
Bioquímicos, Grupo de Biología y Biofísica Aplicada
Universidad Simón Bolívar. “Una visión integral de la Gestión
de la Tecnología en Salud”. Caracas – Venezuela, 1997.
[2] M.S.T Bottesi y S.J. Calli, Departamento de Engenharia
Biomédica, Faculdade de Engenharia Eletrica, UNICAMP e
Centro de Engenharia Biomédica. “Uma visao atual dos cursos
de treinamento de pessoal técnico para atuacion na area da saude
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Perú, 2002.
Ministerio de Salud. “Situación del Equipamiento Médico en los
Ingeniería Biomédica, CBEB 2002. San José dos Campos -
Brasil, 2002.
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Lima – Perú 2002.
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Estratégico Sectorial del Quinquenio Agosto 2001 - Julio 2006”.
Lima – Perú, 2002.
[8] Ministerio de Salud, “Ley 27657 del Ministerio de Salud”. Lima
– Perú, Enero 2002.
[9] L. Yábar, C. Cóndor, D. García, E. Villavicencio, Grupo de
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retrospectiva y situación actual”, IV Congreso Latinoamericano
de Ingeniería Biomédica. Isla Margarita-Venezuela. Septiembre
2007.
[10] Dra. Laura Feuerwerker, Seminario Taller de Desarrollo de los
Recursos Humanos para el Fortalecimiento de los Niveles
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“Lecciones aprendidas en experiencias latinoamericanas para el
desarrollo integrado de la Educación y los Servicios de Salud:
Los Proyectos UNI”, Lima – Perú 2002.