Yossi Pri-Paz: A View from Israel
What’s it like to work in the medical technology field in Israel, and how does it differ from a career in the U.S.? We explored these questions and others with Yossi Pri-Paz, director of clinical engineering and technology at Laniado Hospital in Netanya, Israel. This summer, he attended AAMI’s Annual Conference & Expo to network and bring the latest best practices back to his facility.
AAMI News: What led you to the clinical engineering profession?
Yossi Pri-Paz: As a student at the University of California-Los Angeles, I did a thesis on the non-technical factors and considerations that affect the use and misuse of medical equipment. This is what you might call human factors today. Through this project, I discovered the fascinating interrelationship and communication among the various professional disciplines and personalities within a hospital. I found it to be an intriguing field then, and I still do today. When I returned home to Israel, I was pleased to find that the field was fairly well-established.
AN: What is the clinical engineering field like in Israel, and how does it differ from the field in the United States?
YP: In Israel, most hospitals are public, often owned and operated by the government. The work of the clinical engineer at those hospitals is affected by the fact that purchasing decisions are typically made by the organization at large. I am in the minority in that I work at a private hospital where I am the decision-maker for the purchasing and servicing of medical equipment systems.
In terms of implementation, training, working with physicians and nurses—there really is no difference between the work of a clinical engineer in Israel and a clinical engineer elsewhere. For example, at my hospital I’m currently involved with updating our cath lab equipment; helping to develop a new lung center and servicing a new 24-bed cardiology department; and conducting a special course for nursing students designed to train them on the proper use of medical equipment.
One big difference is that we don’t have Joint Commission accreditation or accreditation from a similar body, meaning we don’t have formal standards that tell us whether we are on the right track with our internal policies. Thus, networking with colleagues is critical for us. The exchange of ideas and best practices is extremely helpful.
AN: Is this why you chose to travel more than 7,000 miles to attend the AAMI Conference this year?
YP: Absolutely. I attended last year’s conference in Boston too, and I benefited a great deal from that. I hope to continue to do it for years to come. Attending these conferences keeps me in touch with AAMI and its members.
AN: Beyond the conference, how do you network with others?
YP: My main networking is done electronically with clinical engineering colleagues in the United States. But I am trying to establish a new electronic forum within the website of the Israeli Ministry of Health (MOH) for members of clinical engineering departments and medical equipment suppliers, dealers, and representatives in this country. Israeli clinical engineers do meet from time to time in professional meetings arranged by manufacturers who introduce new technologies to us. These are similar to local and state biomed society meetings in the United States.
AN: You are also involved with homecare equipment. What does your work consist of?
YP: Our hospital serves a large elderly population, and we are often called to assist with home-based medical devices. This includes training patients on the use of their homecare equipment; involving family members of the patients so that they can understand and assist with the use of the equipment; and establishing the proper“home environment” for homecare.
AAMI is establishing a new homecare standards-development committee, and I hope to lend my knowledge and experience to the committee. This would be one more opportunity, beyond electronic communication, to network with colleagues.
AAMI News: October 2008, Vol. 43, No. 9