Nomenclature Standardization and Health Care Technology Management

Abstract

Medical devices have an essential role in modern health care environments by ensuring safe and effective patient care. The inherent complexity of these modern technologies necessitates a rigorous approach to health care technology management (HTM). This paper highlights a hands-on practicum experience in clinical engineering at Sodexo for University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio. One of the primary investigations involved a nomenclature standardization initiative employing Global Medical Device Nomenclature (GMDN) using the Global Unique Device Identification Database (GUDID) to update inconsistent asset records and improve data quality. This project analyzed 534,127 device records across the Sodexo network and achieved a 75.79% completion rate while establishing a repeatable methodology for future work. The practicum also involved surgical device validation within operating environments and preparing for hospital accreditation surveys conducted by Det Norske Veritas (DNV). Through maintenance, data analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration, this report demonstrates how clinical engineering practices contribute to operational efficiency and patient-centered care.