I would really appreciate it if we could all share some information about the Medical Equipment PM software (database) you are using. Also please share a brief descripition of the pros and cons with it. Thank-you in advance.
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We use Medi-mizer V.12 (Tiscor, Formerly Biotech and then Fluke Biomedical). Our 5 other corporate hospitals use Maximo. (Don't ask how I managed to excape that one so far.)

Pro's -

Ease of use.

Fairly good and flexable reports.

So far has satisifed State, Federal and 2005 JCAHO certification. (With a little tweaking of course.)

Cons -

Software must be ordered with options such as web based forms, Handheld device interface, etc. Unlike most other software programs which have it included.

Totally canned (fixed) screens with no modifcations possible.

Only support options available are paid subscriptions.

Lack of support for automated testing equipment interfacing.

Dear N55W131,

Having recently reviewed & evaluated a number of Equipment Management databases, made a commitment to one Supplier and had the chance to assess whether we made the right decision (based on features, support and performance) .. we are probably in a good position to recommend.

Although I can point you to a website, one thing I will say is that Customer Support was a key driving factor in our decision, since we knew we wanted to develop the software and get good advice on it's use without it costing an arm and a leg after the point of Sale.

This doesn't always come across fully at an evaluation stage, but speak to existing Customers and users and you will quickly find the truth.

As you may pick-up from our previous posts, we are very pleased with the Company we chose; the product, which has the right amount of flexibility and the fantastic quality of Support we have had from them since we became a Customer.

I am very glad we made the decision we did and my recomendation is, as a consequence, glowing.

Apart from all of the above, nobody wants to invest good money, time and effort into a system that does not have a sound future. That is a concern I really do not have over this Software and the organisation suporting it.

Click Here

If it helps I can send you, privately, a report we did at the point we made our decision once we were down to the final two contenders.

Hi,

I wholy agree with Chris the software we are using I believe is the most complete and functional pieces of software available for our porposes over here in the UK. The support we receive is second to none and just cannot be beaten !

I would suggest contacting Barwick on the link in Chris's thread and have a chat regarding your requirements as I am sure they will be keen to learn about how you operate on the otherside of the pond as would I for that matter. If you want a more informal chat then drop me an email on
ian.grayson@midyorks.nhs.uk
where I am sure we can discuss in more detail our professional differences.

One small additional comment. I would thoroughly recommend too that you speak to Barwick over the above requirement.
IanG also has immense practical, end-user experience of the product.
Since Barwick are the 'manufacturer' of the and not a third party intermediary (in the case of another piece of software touted by Philips around here).

As implied, development would not be a problem so you end up with a quality product that meets (and moves with) your service needs.

Rather unusually too, you won't be hounded by any Salesmen either that promise the earth and then later you find (after the commission cheque has been cashed) that the product doesn't deliver.

[CYNICISM NOTE: I used to be in Sales ]

So how much does the devil offer for souls these days.
Robert

Not so much the offer that was disapointing .. but the terms of the contract :smilewink:

It seems that biomeds in the States have now moved on to calling equipment maintenance systems “Clinical Equipment Management Systems”, or CEMS (sounds familiar), as this article shows. The piece, from the excellent monthly biomed magazine “24x7”, discusses issues that have been aired on this forum, and is worth a read.

Hello Geoff,

I have been discussing the possibility of setting up an ebme magazine in a similar format to '24x7'. Do you think it would add value? Would there be interest in it from our biomed community?

Did you mean a hard-copy mag, or on-line, John? Hard-copy would be expensive, surely? I would suggest a deal (ie, co-operation) with "24x7". Could be a Brit-specific section inserted into their mags when issued in the UK, something like that. I would go for an agreement for links from this forum to their articles (why re-invent the wheel?). You won't improve on their mag. It's already the best, I reckon. Why not keep things on-line (easier to edit, and to keep current, I would have thought)? What do the rest of the lads think, I wonder?

I can also vouch for the 24x7 magazine which I used to receive until they stopped mailing it outside of the USA. I found it to be relevant and informative. A UK variant will be great.