You've obviously inspired him, Neil!

But I can't help but wonder what will be next ...

SMART PLAY NOT WORK ... perhaps?

Techs who have not been out to the Desert may not be aware that the private healthcare sector is very much in evidence out there, with private clinics in almost every village of any size, and small (and some not so small) private hospitals in every town. And these days (as I have remarked before) Riyadh may well deserve the title of "medical city of the Middle East".

Whilst bearing in mind the other threads currently in play, I am now ready to pose the question:- "if PM is so wonderful, how come it's so hard to sell"?

Some years ago (out in the Kingdom) I set out to do just that. Many of the small hospitals I visited were very pleased when I delivered nice inventory lists for them to admire (having previously had ... er, nothing), but try as I might, I was never able to get any of them to sign up to PM visits per se.

Perhaps this should not comes as a surprise in a country where the inshallah mentality is not only de facto amongst the majority of the population, but is also official policy as well, but the best I managed was two six-monthly visits to "check" equipment. That, plus the occasional one-off repair. And, I might add, for lump-sum figures (no chance of hourly rates being creamed off there)!

Effectively (as far as fixed-price repairs were concerned), we were (I was) in competition with the official in-Kingdom agents (that is, the manufacturers' appointees, who had - and probably still do have - a monopoly, especially when it comes to gouging the customer). I could always beat them on price, but getting hold of parts was always the problem. But there were ways ... but here I digress.

Yes, in the Riyal World, PM is a hard sell. And I suppose that the lesson to be drawn is that it can only be done with any degree of success in countries where healthcare providers are "encouraged" (frightened?) by government legislation to have the kit looked at on a regular basis.

Although (of course) I advocate PM myself, you might imagine that an old Sheikh who owns a clinic or small hospital might see things rather differently, and simply prefer the "repair when necessary" model!

But (come to think of it now), the one "model" I didn't try was "Free PM" ... but, to be honest, even I can spot the flaw in that one!

Hi

Yes PM is necessary for patient, staff safety.

But, we (I mean everyone) is not in the mind set now of servicing anything they buy. Lets face it when you buy a new car or fridge or wheelbarrow - you do not ask what are cost of ownership of it. And, the same goes for hosptals these days - we as Biomeds try to get involved in the purchasing process and put a cost of ownership spin on their purchase - but, how many times has a new piece of kit turned up at your hospital and you can see its going to be expensive, and no one else even worries.
Let alone asked you if you will need any specialised test equipment and given you a budget for it.

Going home now for lie down.......

Don't you? I do (or rather would, if I was ever in a position to shell out for a new motor).

But your last point has been the battle many of us have been fighting for the last thirty years (at least). Kit "just turning up" without any thought at all having being given to its tech support has almost been the norm, in my experience.

But (as to your first point), the "do you service your own kit" question has been shot down on here more than a few times before.

Here is the rub:- hospital equipment is not your own kit. It belongs to a second party (and you are custodian of it, and have an obligation to care for it). Furthermore it is used on (for the benefit of) a third party. Namely the patient. Do I need to continue ... ?

One final point:- back in the "Good Old Days" there really wasn't much kit in hospitals, and the stuff that was there used to break down often enough so that it was, shall we say, noticed. Coupled with that (and this is a point worth remembering), user staff used to report faults! These days, there is too much kit, and when it becomes unserviceable, the staff usually just hide it in cupboards with the rest of their collections of junk. Yet another reason (as if another were needed) why the complete inventory of equipment needs to be "dug out" from time to time!

any response to confirm, how long nick brown has been out in the magic kingdom? Huw

No, I'm afraid not.
I emailed him directly (and the email didn't bounce) but unfortunately - no response.

Nick has become more shy in his old age, and his first Love Linear accelerator No1 in room No2 she does not allow him much time as she constantly plays up....that why he is unable to respond your email Huw.

surely he should be allowed the prize, or do we still need confirmation because Neil might object?

I reckon there's some sort of weirdness going on out there in the Desert. With the single obvious exception (see today's posts), we never seem to hear from any of the guys out there these days. Unlike in previous times.

Could they have been "banned" from using the site? Or have they just become fed up with it (surely not)?

Let's hope that they've simply done the wise thing and collected their money then headed out to the mystical East (that is, shacked up at a beach bar, or some such thing).

What is the prize, then I will tell you if I am upset, but as an easy going bloke I don't give a ****
I will retire to the east, but not to a beach bar thank you very much.

The prize for the:-

1. "longest serving Biomed in the Magic Kingdom this century"


would have to be decided by the initial founder of this wonderful EBME forum.

Mr Huw Davis.......