Association Roundtable

Abstract

Insights and advice from leaders of local and state biomedical associations“Assure that your PM has purpose and is a benefit. Ask yourself, ‘Are you making a difference and does your data support having the device included in your PM program? Make sure your time is used wisely. If the equipment is under a third-party contract, denote it as such and match your CMMS [computerized maintenance management system] PM schedule to your providers. Your pass-off is a confirmation that the vendor performed the service outlined in your contract. You have a PM window in which the inspection can be performed. Use that window, start your schedule at the beginning of the cycle and not toward the end.”Scott James, Board Member, Intermountain Clinical Instrumentation Society“I believe that the most important tip about an effective PM of any medical device is to be very thorough. It is crucial to read OEM [original equipment manufacturer] directions carefully without skipping steps, and observing any information on the device's screen. Otherwise, a small mistake can result in a large, unintended consequence. It is better to perform PMs correctly and accurately the first time around so that follow-ups are not needed.”Lanita Hill, President, Indiana Biomedical Society“It's not easy—maybe not possible—to find a single tip that would be considered the most important. Obviously, we need to perform a thorough and timely inspection that follows the procedure adopted by the hospital and/or the manufacturer's recommendations. The process must be documented and applicable labeling applied. Have a conversation with the end user to determine if there have been any operational concerns. Also, review the device history since its last maintenance. Whew, that's quite a long ‘single most important tip.’ I reached out to some CMIA members for additional ideas. I was rewarded with this gem: ‘Ensure the device's safety, operation, and cleanliness like it would be used on those most dear to you.’ That's a great tip, not only for preventive maintenance, but all facets of our job. It shows a grounded perspective about the importance of our contribution to healthcare technology.”Fred Yoffe, 2013 Chair, CMIA Board of Directors, California Medical Instrumentation Association (CMIA)“Find out what things fail most often on the units. Make sure you replace those common failure items as this will save the clinicians from having downtime. Make sure you have parts on hand for the common failures.”Russ Magoon, President, Oregon Biomedical Association