The ratio of networked medical devices in modern hospitals is 2.4 devices per bed. These devices range in use from nuclear medicine to glucose monitoring and can have operating systems from Windows 98 to RTOS. Much like industrial control systems, availability and integrity trump confidentiality. These devices may behave like traditional computers on the network but the operational, regulatory, and patient safety risks are very different. Healthcare providers need to implement acquisition processes to mitigate the new risks and solve unique challenges that existing healthcare technology infrastructures present. Clinical Engineering and Information Technology organizations need to work together to ensure delivery of care.
