Acta Innovations· 2026Q2· Review
THE ROLE OF MEDICAL DEVICE SPECIALISTS IN CLINICAL ENGINEERING DECISION-MAKING FOR DEVICE REPLACEMENT AND END-OF-LIFE MANAGEMENT: A NARRATIVE REVIEW OF SAFETY, COST, AND OBSOLESCENCE PROTOCOLS
- 0citations
- Q2SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Medical device specialists are crucial for clinical engineering decision-making in device replacement and end-of-life management, moving beyond simple age or cost metrics to consider technical condition, failure history, clinical criticality, and lifecycle costs.
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Key points
- Decisions on medical device replacement and end-of-life management should consider technical condition, failure history, clinical criticality, repair feasibility, manufacturer support, and total lifecycle expenditure, not just age or acquisition cost.
- Medical device specialists interpret equipment performance data, assess risks, and coordinate with clinical and administrative stakeholders to provide evidence-based recommendations.
- Digital monitoring and predictive maintenance can enhance equipment oversight, but require attention to data quality, cybersecurity, and institutional capabilities.
- Sustainable practices like refurbishment, reuse, recycling, and environmentally responsible disposal are relevant when they meet safety and regulatory requirements.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Medical device replacement and end-of-life management are important components of clinical engineering and healthcare technology management, influencing patient safety, operational reliability, financial sustainability, and environmental performance. This narrative review examines the role of medical device specialists in clinical engineering decision-making, with particular attention to equipment reliability, maintenance requirements, replacement prioritization, technological obsolescence, and sustainable resource utilization. The review synthesizes literature addressing medical equipment selection, lifecycle assessment, maintenance management, healthcare technology evaluation, and circular economy approaches. The reviewed literature highlights the importance of evaluating multiple criteria rather than relying exclusively on equipment age or acquisition costs. Technical condition, failure history, clinical criticality, repair feasibility, manufacturer support, and total lifecycle expenditure can collectively inform replacement decisions. Medical device specialists contribute by interpreting equipment performance data, assessing risks, coordinating with clinical and administrative stakeholders, and developing evidence-based recommendations. Digital monitoring and predictive maintenance offer additional opportunities to improve equipment oversight, provided that data quality, cybersecurity, and institutional capabilities are adequately addressed. The review also emphasizes the relevance of refurbishment, reuse, recycling, and environmentally responsible disposal when these options satisfy safety and regulatory requirements. An integrated decision-making framework combining safety, technical performance, economic considerations, and technological sustainability is proposed to support transparent and consistent equipment lifecycle management. Strengthening clinical engineering capacity and institutional governance may improve resource allocation and equipment availability, including within Saudi healthcare institutions. Further empirical research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of integrated replacement strategies across diverse healthcare settings.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Acta Innovations, 2026 · DOI ↗
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