The Unlocking Healthcare project is pleased to announce the launch of its national survey examining barriers to the repair and maintenance of software-dependent medical devices in Canada.
This research seeks to better understand the legal, policy, and technical challenges associated with servicing clinical and diagnostic equipment, as well as the impacts these barriers may have on healthcare delivery, costs, and system resilience. While existing discussions around medical device repair have largely focused on the United States, this study is designed to generate evidence grounded in the Canadian context.
The survey is directed toward biomedical and clinical engineers (BME/CEs), biomedical engineering technologists and technicians (BMETs), and independent medical device service professionals working in Canada. Participants will be asked to share their experiences with repair restrictions, including technical barriers (e.g., software locks or authentication systems), legal considerations, and the practical implications for their work.
The survey includes a mix of multiple-choice, Likert-scale, and open-ended questions, and is expected to take approximately 20 minutes to complete. We are grateful for the support of the Canadian Medical and Biological Engineering Society in distributing this survey to its members.
https://surveys.dal.ca/opinio/s?s=83813
The survey will remain open until July 17, 2026.
Participants will have the option to enter a draw for a gift card as a token of appreciation for their time.
Barriers to medical device repair have important implications for healthcare delivery, system costs, and patient care. We encourage those working in this space to share their perspectives and contribute to building a stronger evidence base on this issue in Canada.
Leave a Reply