The top 5 challenges clinical
engineers face in 2025—and
how to address them for
optimal patient care
The critical care device management playbook
1
Is your hospital vulnerable?
Recent industry changes are making it increasingly challenging for clinical engineers to keep pace with device management
needs. As hospitals and health systems acquire more complex and connected devices, many clinical engineers are also
navigating resource constraints, skills and training gaps and cybersecurity concerns. These difficult dynamics—if left
unaddressed—place hospitals and health systems at higher risk of device management problems.
Why it’s time for a new approach
Without additional resources and support for clinical engineers, hospitals are more likely to experience lost or misplaced
devices, equipment problems, unexpected equipment downtime, and missed software updates or security patches. That,
in turn, may result in significant consequences, such as operational inefficiencies, lost revenue, reputational damage, clinician
dissatisfaction and patient care delays.
This playbook can help your organization create a plan of action to mitigate these challenges and ensure optimal device
management. In the following pages, you’ll learn the:
• Top five challenges clinical engineers face
• Biggest risks these challenges pose for patients, hospitals and health systems
• Solutions to consider that help address these challenges
2
Table of contents
Ensuring optimal equipment uptime 4
Managing more complex and connected devices 5
Navigating gaps in skills and expertise 6
Tracking and monitoring an expanding fleet 7
Dealing with multiple vendor parts and accessories 8
“When we work on a device, we work on it as if one of our loved
ones is going to be the next one to need it. That’s something we all
take to heart.”
Christopher Street
Clinical Engineer, California
3
Challenge #1: Ensuring optimal
equipment uptime
Clinical engineers are responsible for optimizing device uptime and reducing downtime. As hospitals and health systems
acquire more devices, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for clinical engineers to proactively maintain all equipment and
execute repairs quickly. A recent survey of clinical engineers found that more than 56% of respondents characterized their
workload as “heavy” or “excessive,” underscoring the problems that clinical engineers face in completing their day-to-day
maintenance and repair efforts.1
Risks Remote technical support services are another resource
for hospitals and health systems to consider providing their
When proactive maintenance and repairs lag, potential risks
clinical engineering teams. With remote support, clinical
include unexpected equipment downtime, costly repairs,
engineers have immediate access to support, rather than
care delays and disruptions, and clinician dissatisfaction.
needing to wait for an individual to meet them on-site.
This includes:
Solutions
• 24/7 telephone support
While many hospitals and health systems tend to engage
in limited warranty programs when acquiring new devices, • Secure video support calls
opting for more extensive device warranty programs can • Remote-in support
help support proactive maintenance efforts and timelier
repairs. This includes:
• On-site and repair center options for corrective repairs
• Quick access to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) Remote support can be an extremely effective option
parts and next day delivery for quick and efficient equipment repairs, as
66% of device problems can
be fixed remotely.2
“Clinical engineers are an integral component of patient care and
patient safety, yet we’re facing significant challenges that threaten our
efficiency and jeopardize care delivery.”
Mark Huy
Clinical Engineer, Illinois
4
Challenge #2: Managing more complex and
connected devices
Connected devices are becoming an extremely common and critical aspect of healthcare delivery. It’s estimated that each
patient bed has an average of 10 to 15 connected medical devices.3 For many clinical engineers, the growing number of
connected devices is resulting in additional responsibilities, including the need to regularly apply updates, upgrades and
security patches.
Risks Engaging in a service agreement can also help clinical
engineers manage the influx of complex and connected
When clinical engineers struggle to keep pace with
devices through agreements that include:
connected device management and maintenance needs,
potential risks include cybersecurity breaches, device • Always-on communication, verified OEM parts and
compatibility and performance problems, shorter equipment services and industry-leading AI tools
lifecycles, and loss of device to network data transfer.
• Lifecycle management (planning, procurement, upgrades
and retirement)
Solutions
Hospitals and health systems should consider providing their • On-demand services for fast repairs with OEM parts
clinical engineering teams with hardware system, software
and device protection programs that may help enhance and
streamline connected device management and lessen the
financial and scheduling burdens associations with ensuring
devices are up to date. This can include:
• Software updates and OS patches
• Software and/or hardware-based system upgrades
$11 million
The average cost of a healthcare
• Clinical software and/or hardware system upgrades
cyber attack.4
“It used to be much easier to diagnose and fix device problems.
Now, every device has a different structure, and every product
has different components.”
Michael Serpe
GE HealthCare Senior Services Staff Member and a former clinical engineer
5
Challenge #3: Navigating gaps in skills
and expertise
As biomedical devices become more complex and connected, the skillsets required to manage those devices are
evolving. As a result, many clinical engineering teams are experiencing gaps in skills associated with optimal
maintenance, troubleshooting and security on certain devices.
Further fueling concerns related to skills and expertise gaps is the closure of many academic training programs
for new clinical engineers, as well as the fact that one-third of the current workforce is nearing retirement age.5
Risks In order to enhance information retention and engagement,
hospitals and health systems should also provide clinical
When gaps in skills and expertise occur, potential risks
engineers with training in a variety of formats, including:
include troubleshooting and repair delays, poor device
performance and clinical engineer retention challenges. • Hands-on in-person training at an OEM facility or at the
customer’s location
Solutions • Self-paced or virtual instructor-led training
As hospitals and health systems invest in new biomedical
devices, ensuring clinical engineers have access to
training opportunities should be a top priority. Training
should include:
• Detailed troubleshooting and maintenance including
operations, software configurations, hardware and
communication
• Processes, protocols, and procedures for upgrades,
updates and patches
• Specialized training on device and cloud security
“In addition to managing, maintaining and repairing connected
devices, clinical engineers need to be able to troubleshoot any network
and connectivity issues that arise. This requires a different skill set.”
Mark Huy
Clinical Engineer, Illinois
6
Challenge #4: Tracking and monitoring
an expanding fleet
Clinical engineers are responsible for ensuring biomedical devices are always ready for patient care, whenever and
wherever clinicians need them. Yet with thousands of devices, parts and accessories to keep track of, this is extremely
challenging. As hospitals and health systems acquire more devices, it is growing even more difficult.
According to estimates from Fortune Business Insights, the global medical devices market is expected to grow from
USD 542.21 billion in 2024 to USD 886.8 billion by 2032, with a key contributor being the rising number of surgical
procedures globally.6
Risks Asset management and network monitoring solutions can
also enhance device and network security by alerting clinical
When clinical engineers lack resources that support
engineers to potential device or network problems or risks.
efficient fleet tracking and monitoring, including network
infrastructure, potential risks include lost time searching Other benefits include the ability to view and organize
for devices, misplaced devices, loss of device-to-network devices and fleets, proactively manage potential
data transfer, device security vulnerabilities and clinician vulnerabilities, and proactively identify network performance
dissatisfaction. changes while reducing the risk of patient data loss.
Solutions
Real-time location tracking solutions can play a key role From 24 minutes to just 4 minutes
in helping clinical engineers efficiently track and monitor
Mobile equipment moves throughout the hospital
their fleet and their network infrastructure. Benefits of these
from one user to another, making it difficult to find and
solutions include:
maintain an accurate inventory. Real-time location
• Less time spent searching for equipment tracking solutions can help. For a small- to-medium
• Enhanced productivity and efficiency sized hospital, this could mean decreasing the average
time spent searching for equipment from 24 minutes
• Enhanced inventory counts and asset distribution
to four minutes after implementing a remote asset
• More visibility into equipment utilization management solution.7
“Remote tracking and inventory solutions can help eliminate
time-consuming searches and enhance visibility into opportunities
to improve device health. This empowers clinical engineers to work
more efficiently and strategically.”
Kristen Suessmann
GE Healthcare Senior Director of Healthcare Technology Management Operations
7
Challenge #5: Dealing with multiple
vendor source parts and accessories
Clinical engineers have multiple options for acquiring new source parts and accessories, however, researching options
takes time and effort. Accurately determining part reliability and efficacy is not easy.
Risks Since parts and repairs go hand-in-hand, access to a trusted
partner that can provide off-site repairs is important. The
When clinical engineers lack an efficient and reliable process
most effective repair operations center partners:
for selecting parts and accessories, potential risks include
wasted time researching options, utilization of less reliable • Streamline the repair process by providing a shipping box
and efficient parts, poor device performance, and reduced and label
device longevity.
• Provide OEM-certified repairs with factory-approved parts
and technicians
Solutions
• Provide an average turnaround time of less than five
Hospitals and health systems should consider providing business days
clinical engineers with online access to a curated portfolio of
parts and accessories that highlights the most reliable and
compatible parts available for their biomedical devices. This
may help streamline and enhance the selection process.
4 key advantages of OEM parts
Hospitals and health systems should also recommend that
clinical engineers should opt for OEM replacement parts, 1 Quality: Meet the highest quality standards
whenever possible. While OEM parts are sometimes more
costly, they last longer and are more reliable. Over time the 2 Reliability: More reliable and minimize the risk of
cost of ownership tends to balance out. equipment failure
3 Compatibility: Integrate seamlessly with your
equipment
4 Ease: Eliminate the need to research and search
for other options
8
Finding the right match for your clinical
engineering team
Hospitals and health systems should explore additional
opportunities to support their clinical engineers. The
suite of service offerings from GE HealthCare Patient
Care Solutions can help. These offerings, which are fully
customizable and can be scaled up or down as your needs
change, include:
• Extended warranty programs
• Remote technical support programs
• Enhanced system, software and device protection
programs
• Specialized technical training programs
• Remote asset management solutions
• Parts, accessories and off-site repair solutions
©2025 GE HealthCare
GE is a trademark of General Electric Company used under trademark license.
Reproduction in any form is forbidden without prior written permission from GE Learn more about how we can help
HealthCare. Nothing in this material should be used to diagnose or treat any disease
or condition. Readers must consult a healthcare professional. your organization thrive.
JB31968XX
Sources
1. “HTM Salary Survey 2023,” 24x7 Magazine, last modified January 25, 2025 6. “Medical Devices Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type
(Orthopedic Devices, Cardiovascular Devices, Diagnostic Imaging, In-vitro
2. Devices include Patient Monitoring, Diagnostic Cardiology, Anesthesia and
Diagnostics, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Wound Management, Diabetes
Respiratory, and Maternal and Infant Care. PCS 2022 Internal Data (data from
Care, Ophthalmic Devices, Dental Devices, Nephrology, General Surgery, and
FCR dashboard in service suite).
Others), By End-User (Hospitals & ASCs, Clinics, and Others), and Regional
3. Heather Landi, “82% of healthcare organizations have experienced an IoT- Forecast, 2024-2032,” Fortune Business Insights, last modified October 7, 2024
focused cyberattack, survey finds,” Fierce Healthcare, last modified August
7. In a small to medium size hospital (100-300 staffed beds), based on
29, 2019
average 24-minute search time without Encompass, and four-minute search
4. Nathan Eddy. “Healthcare cyberattacks are costing an average of $11 with Encompass.
million per breach,” Healthcare Finance News, June 2024.
5. “HTM Salary Survey 2022,” 24x7 Magazine, last modified January 27, 2023
