FAQs | healthcare-engr

FAQs

Most frequently asked questions about Healthcare Engineering, Healthcare Engineering Alliance Society, its programs, services and processes.

Q: How is Healthcare Engineering different from Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering?

A: Biomedical Engineering (the medical sector of Bioengineering) plays a key role and has made tremendous contributions to healthcare. In general, Healthcare Engineering is a broader discipline than Biomedical Engineering.

Healthcare Engineering covers healthcare, while Biomedical Engineering focuses on biomedicine. Biomedicine is part of healthcare; biomedical industry is part of healthcare industry; and Biomedical Engineering is part of Healthcare Engineering.
Healthcare is covered in almost all engineering disciplines such as chemical, civil, computer, electrical, environmental, industrial, information, materials, mechanical, software, and systems engineering, in addition to Biomedical Engineering.

Healthcare Engineering is therefore broader than Biomedical Engineering by covering

healthcare, including biomedicine;
all engineering disciplines, including Biomedical Engineering.

Q: How is Healthcare Engineering different from Healthcare Systems Engineering?

A: Healthcare Systems Engineering may mean "Engineering for Healthcare Systems" or "Systems Engineering for Healthcare". Both are part of Healthcare Engineering. See Healthcare Engineering Subjects.

Q: Where are Healthcare Engineering jobs?

A: Engineers are in high demand in almost all sectors of the healthcare industry. Healthcare industry needs engineers from almost all engineering disciplines, such as biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, environmental, industrial, materials, mechanical, software, and systems engineering. See Healthcare Engineering jobs.

Q: I have a BS engineering degree not in Biomedical Engineering. Can I work in the healthcare industry?

A: Absolutely. The healthcare industry hires hundreds of times more engineers in chemical, computer, electrical, industrial, information, materials, mechanical, software, systems and other engineering disciplines combined than in biomedical engineering or bioengineering. Most of the engineers working in the healthcare industry do not have a biomedical engineering degree. For instance, a medical device may need mechanical engineers for machine design, electrical engineers for circuit design, computer scientists for software design, industrial engineers for ergonomic design, among others. If you don't have any healthcare/biomedical background, short courses may help increase your marketability.

Q: Why should engineers consider jobs in healthcare?

A: (a) To work in one of the largest and fastest-growing industries with favorable long-term career prospects and stability. (b) To be able to directly benefit human life and health as an engineer.