‘An Obligation to Join Forces’

Abstract

Editor's Note: Michele DeMeo wrote this letter for the AAMI/FDA International Conference on Medical Device Standards and Regulation, held March 21–22 in Reston, VA.Dear attendees,Good morning/afternoon and thank you for this opportunity and your time. My name is Michele DeMeo. I was a hospital manager, independent consultant, a committee member for several AAMI work groups, a member of AORN' sterile processing and materials management's specialty assembly, a SGE and committee member for the FDA, and a healthcare author and columnist and an approved IAHCSMM instructor, among other obligations until recently. My 20-year healthcare career has been stalled due to my terminal ALS health status.However, I heard of this summit and felt the need to reach out since I cannot join you. I am impressed by this joint meeting and effort. Our citizens deserve the very best care in the world, which means improving on good and even great; there is always room for improvement. We have an obligation to join forces and work with all critical stakeholders, including manufactures, hospitals and other healthcare providers, standard developers, and lawmakers. We owe this to not only consumers of care, but to those who provide care and those who support care providers, such as sterile processing technicians. One example would be appropriate cleaning, disinfection and sterilization instructions that are available, make sense, are easy to comply with in our healthcare facilities, and are understood by those selling the products to help reduce the spread of misinformation. That's one example out of many.This message is nothing new or else you would not be here, but I wanted you to know in the face of dying, I needed to use my energy that I do have left to voice just how important and time sensitive this topic is for all of us who make healthcare processing an imperative. Our issues related to what needs improvement are not insurmountable. I wish I could be here and be a part of your hard work. I will provide my information if any member here has any questions about our opportunities and areas for improvement. My email is mddemeo@yahoo.com. With every ounce I have left, I remain passionate for our mutual goals for this profession and related interdependences. I have full faith in you, my peers, that progress has begun and will remain moving forward because of your passion, commitment, and sheer talent. Thank you for your work. It is needed more than ever. I am proud you are here today and send my best wishes for a productive session!Thank you for ear and time.Respectfully,Michele DeMeo