A survey of persons certified in clinical engineering and their thoughts on the profession

A questionnaire was sent to 346 persons certified in clinical engineering (CCEs) worldwide. An impressive 72% return revealed the following: 57% of the CCEs are employed by hospitals, 15% by manufacturers, and 12% by academic institutions; 13% are consultants in private practice. Half of them have been with their current employer for over 9 years; their average age is 44.3 years. Thirty-six percent left hospitals for their present jobs. The median salary of the hospital-based CCEs was in the range of +40,000-45,000/year, whereas that of their non-hospital counterparts was in the range of +50,000-55,000/year. Of the nonhospital CCEs, 25% earned over +70,000/year, while only 3% of the hospital CCEs earned salaries in this category. The mean age of the hospitals CCEs is, however, 4.8 years less than that of the non-hospital CCEs. Although some comments on the profession were particularly critical, the respondents believed strongly that clinical engineering remains a viable career choice and has contributed significantly to health care. Underutilization of clinical engineering talents, particularly in the hospital setting, continues to be the predominate concern and greatest source of job-related frustration.