TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of the impact of technical physicians on improving individual patient care with technology
AU - Groenier, Marleen
AU - Spijkerboer, Koen
AU - Venix, Lisanne
AU - Bannink, Lars
AU - Yperlaan, Saskia
AU - Eyck, Quinten
AU - van Manen, Jeannette G.
AU - Miedema, Heleen A.Th
N1 - Funding Information:
Part of this study was presented at the SEFI 2020 annual conference of the European Society for Engineering Education. The authors would like to thank all Technical Physicians and medical specialists who participated for their time and for sharing their experiences with us. Also, the authors wish to thank Jasper Homminga for his help in reviewing and revising the manuscript.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).
Financial transaction number:
2500063396
PY - 2023/12
Y1 - 2023/12
N2 - Background: The rapid introduction of technical innovations in healthcare requires that professionals are adequately prepared for correct clinical use of medical technology. In response to the technological transformation of healthcare, a new type of professional, the Technical Physician (TP), was created and is trained to improve individual patient care using technology tailored to the needs of individual patients. This study investigates the TPs’ impact on patient care in terms of innovation, effectiveness, efficiency, and patient safety. Method: Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 30 TPs and 17 medical specialists (MSs) working in academic or teaching hospitals in the Netherlands. The pre-structured and open-ended interview questions focused on: 1) the perceived impact on innovation, effectiveness, efficiency, and safety, and 2) opportunities and challenges in daily work. Results: TPs and MSs unanimously experienced that TPs contributed to innovation. A majority indicated that effectiveness (TP 57%; MS 71%) and efficiency (TP 67%; MS 65%) of clinical practice had increased. For safety, 87% of TPs but only 47% of MSs reported an increase. The main explanation given for TPs positive impact was combining medical and technical knowledge. Mainly organizational barriers were mentioned as a potential cause for a less visible contribution of TPs. Conclusion and discussion: TPs and MSs unanimously agreed that TPs contributed to innovating patient care through their integrative medical and technical competencies. Most TPs and MSs also reported increased effectiveness, efficiency, and safety of patient care due to the TPs’ work. TPs and MSs expected that the TPs’ impact on direct and indirect patient care will be enhanced once organizational barriers are removed.
AB - Background: The rapid introduction of technical innovations in healthcare requires that professionals are adequately prepared for correct clinical use of medical technology. In response to the technological transformation of healthcare, a new type of professional, the Technical Physician (TP), was created and is trained to improve individual patient care using technology tailored to the needs of individual patients. This study investigates the TPs’ impact on patient care in terms of innovation, effectiveness, efficiency, and patient safety. Method: Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 30 TPs and 17 medical specialists (MSs) working in academic or teaching hospitals in the Netherlands. The pre-structured and open-ended interview questions focused on: 1) the perceived impact on innovation, effectiveness, efficiency, and safety, and 2) opportunities and challenges in daily work. Results: TPs and MSs unanimously experienced that TPs contributed to innovation. A majority indicated that effectiveness (TP 57%; MS 71%) and efficiency (TP 67%; MS 65%) of clinical practice had increased. For safety, 87% of TPs but only 47% of MSs reported an increase. The main explanation given for TPs positive impact was combining medical and technical knowledge. Mainly organizational barriers were mentioned as a potential cause for a less visible contribution of TPs. Conclusion and discussion: TPs and MSs unanimously agreed that TPs contributed to innovating patient care through their integrative medical and technical competencies. Most TPs and MSs also reported increased effectiveness, efficiency, and safety of patient care due to the TPs’ work. TPs and MSs expected that the TPs’ impact on direct and indirect patient care will be enhanced once organizational barriers are removed.
KW - Medical devices
KW - Medical education, health professions
KW - Outcome assessment
KW - Patient safety
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85150861596&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s12909-023-04137-z
DO - 10.1186/s12909-023-04137-z
M3 - Article
C2 - 36959581
AN - SCOPUS:85150861596
SN - 1472-6920
VL - 23
JO - BMC Medical Education
JF - BMC Medical Education
IS - 1
M1 - 181
ER -