Last week we sent out hundreds of letters to every medical company we could think of, asking them if they could supply user and service manuals by CD or internet in either html or pdf format.

The idea is that we will put all the user manuals onto the Trusts intranet so that they will be accessible to staff in an easier way (rather than rummaging around in drawers). I am assured by IT that all staff will have easy access to PC's within 12 months .

If its OK with Huw I'll pass on the responses by companies in say a months time in some sort of download.

We are already getting some responses but its a bit mixed so far.
Paul

Hi Paul !
Glad to see someone has taken my suggestion seriously ! Our Supplies said they were too busy to send letters out - and we have hundreds of bits and pieces for which no one has seen a user manual for years !
The Hospital Intranet is the obvious place to put this stuff. It's always available (except when peoples computers freeze up or the network collapses in a heap) and doesn't take up shelf space.
I for one will be watching for your feedback with interest !

Welch Allyn, TechView.
Medical Product Service Information System CD-ROM.

This single CD-ROM contains 87 Operation Manuals and 37 Service manuals for Welch Allyn products. Ranging from Ophthalmoscopes to Vital Signs Monitors.
All documents are stored in the popular PDF format and the Adobe Acrobat Reader software is included on the CD-ROM with a special search plug-in, which allows multiple document searches.
Documents are printable and can be scaled on screen. Bookmarks are included to assist in finding the correct section of the manuals. Powerful search engines allow the entire CD-ROM or a single document to be searched for occurrences of words or phrases.
Each CD-ROM is clearly identified with a part number revision letter and date, to meet the requirements of document control, for ISO9000 registered departments.

Sections include;
Authorized Service Sites
Diagnostic Instrument Instructions
Service Manual Listing
Service & Operation Manuals
Repair Parts Pricing (US Domestic only)
Repair Parts Catalog (Traditional Diagnostic Instruments Only)
Service Bulletins
System Navigation Instructions

This CD-ROM is available free of charge to all UK hospital Medical Engineering Departments on a
Subscription basis. To unsure that the information is up to date, the CD-ROM will be update on a
Semi-annual basis with the updated version automatically mailed to all subscribers.

This CD-Rom is currently distributed to over 260 subscribers. If you would like to receive a copy please contact Jonathan Pope on 01296 689905 or by e-mail.
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As I said elsewhere on this site, Welch Allyn are VERY helpful and their information is excellent - as with Arcomed.
But what about the rest ???

Welch-Alyn CD is good.

Graseby are about the only company who ever send us updates without us asking.

Our intranet has a few, a very few, manuals on it. Somehow I never seem to get round to finding/adding any more!

I did float this idea with quite a few of the suppliers last year, with the possibility of putting them on the site. The feeling I got was that they didn't want to put the information in the public domain.

Possible reasons might be difficulties in keeping the information current, and then litigation if someone uses the wrong info...etc

So I let it lie. If any of the suppliers want to contact me about this, I would be more than happy to listen.

Surely its only a case of the supplier keeping a log of whos got what and when to update the info.
They seem to have no problem sending trees of junk mail to any name that appears on any documentation in order to try and get a sale.

I would have thought companies would have bitten your hand off to have their user information on a web page. I can understand not having technical info on a web page unless it was password protected for all the obvious reasons.

As Roy mentioned Arcomed's site is well laid out and, in my opinion, the way other medical device suppliers should be striving for.

If Karl means having locally held CD info, both technical and user that is either used by EBME depts or posted on Intranets then yes I agree with him. Surely in this day and age it is the direction we should be heading.

Maybe PPQ forms should have a new "criteria" added.

I was talking to Jim Gavin and Steve Copple recently and I know they have been doing something along these lines.

Maybe another Forum entry could be "Companies who supply electronic service/user information ?"

If the list was Manufacturer/model specific we could then draw upon it to see about replacing archaic paperwork libraries.

I started drawing up a list of manufacturers and models for our Trust to see about contacting them as to availability of CD of PDF files.
It's one of my "on-going" tasks, if we compiled collectively at least it would make my life easier.

I know Paul Blackett's original post said he would be putting something on the downloads section but I can't find it.

Did you get round to it Paul?

On the subject of "electronic service manuals" Louis has in his possession a PDF service manual for an anesthetics workstation made by the Krouts and given a name that resembles the little Japanese guy who used to fight Inspector Clouseau in the “pink Panther Films” I don't know if any of you chaps have seen this manual but it simply refers to a lot of pictures that don't even exist. Blank spaces everywhere, oh how Louis Gasps at the pure cheek of these greedy boxheads who sell us equipment/training costing 10's of thousands of pounds accompanied with completely inadequate technical documentation.

Louis

Touche Louis III.

My verbosity on this one is outstanding to say the least. Many years have ensued in my attempt to extract professional data from these people.

Again, present day, we are looking at Evita 4 Ventilators, once again the documentation leaves much to be desired. They will not improve on this due to lack of desire or professionalism.

All those before me who have purchased this beast should have pursued this matter to the utmost. Then I would be doing something else, instead of typing this comment.

EBME fraternity need to drive their requirements and standing forward. Not sit back and let time take over Tempus Fugit.

Perhaps this comment should be elsewhere in the forum, but nevertheless said anyway.

Have a Nice day.