Medical Technology Assessment and Acquisition

Abstract:
The last four decades have witnessed an unprecedented expansion in medical technology. While the quantity and variety of devices and techniques available for the treatment and diagnosis of disease has increased, so also has their complexity and the way in which they connect to and interact with the patient. The path from the designer to the end user is a long and tortuous one, involving many professional groups, frequently with differing and sometimes conflicting interests. The only way to ensure that the right technology is available at the right time, in the right place, and at the right price whilst maximising patient benefit and minimising risk, is by careful assessment of the technology and by the implementation of a strategic technology planning process by healthcare providers. This involves far more than simply comparing technical specifications and prices – users need good, evidencebased information on value, efficacy and usability.