CONTENTS
4 Notes from the Chair
12 Medical Device Connectivity in a Digital Children’s Hospital
14 Case Studies from a Field Clinical Engineer
16 Building a Career in Healthcare Technology
18 A Mature Student’s Perspective on Opportunity, Learning and Growth
19 It’s Not Just About the Device, it’s About the Patient
21 Ensuring Device Compliance within Irish hospitals
24 Reporting Device Safety Issues to the HPRA
26 Impedance-Guided IO Needles
30 Serviceability – Critical Component of Clinical Safety
34 Advancing Cardiac Diagnostics in Hospitals and Community Care
38 Association of Renal Technologists 50th Anniversary Conference
40 Conversation Analysis in an Acute Stroke Unit
Notes from the Chair
Welcome to the Spring 2026 edition of Spectrum Journal, which includes a focus on graduates and education, plus a cover feature with the Tony Fitzgerald, Head of Clinical Engineering at Children’s Health Ireland on medical device connectivity at the new Children’s Hospital.
In this issue, we hear from Jacob (Oyinmiebi) Ebikibina-Oti – Field Clinical Service Engineer at UniPhar MedTech (Cardiac Services division) – who offers a brief insight into case studies from his experience so far. Elsewhere, Emma Gaborova – Field Service Engineer at MDI Medical Ltd – discusses her journey from academic foundations to Field Service Engineering.
JR Cusipag also brings a mature student’s perspective on opportunity, learning and growth, while Sonalli Dahiya – a recent Medical Physics postgraduate from University of Galway – gives her perspective on clinical engineering, highlighting that it’s not about the device, it’s about the patient.
We also have two articles in from the HPRA, the national
Notes from the Chair
competent authority responsible for the application of the regulations for medical devices and IVDs (i.e. the MDR and the IVDR). Firstly, James MacCarthy – Medical Devices Assessor at HPRA – reports on device compliance within Irish hospitals; and secondly, Judith Martin – Medical Devices and IVD Advisor at HPRA – looks at the reporting of safety issues to HPRA.
Other articles of note include: Eibheann Kelly, M.E. Biomedical Engineering Graduate, University of Galway, who focuses on the topic of making skeletal access safer and smarter; Brian Turvey, Technical Director at Cardiogenics Ltd, explains why the serviceability of medical devices should be recognised not just as a vendor feature, but as a critical component of clinical safety; and Bridget Flanagan, Professor Sue Franklin
and Dr Rosie Gowran – all from University of Limerick – review communication interaction between doctors and persons with aphasia after stroke.
Finally, Ciaran Goman, Clinical Engineer with Fresenius Medical Care, reports from the Association of Renal Technologists 50th Anniversary Conference, which offered a three-day reflection on learning, collaboration and progress in renal care.
I hope you enjoy this edition of Spectrum Journal. And don’t forget to save the date for our Annual Scientific Conference later this year, which is confirmed for the 17th and 18th of September in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin.
Eoghan Hayden, Chairperson, BEAI