EBME Forums Forums Management Training Equipment training

I'm looking for a database that i can copy to establish a central equipment training register.Also any advice/experience on the most effective way of competency assessment would be appreciated enormously

Welcome to the ebme forum John.

We use the HR dept to keep master records of all training. (Whether that medical equipment training or fire training) We hand out a form at training sessions for recording who attended, and to send out the certificates. This gets copied to HR and we keep the original. I think Huw Evans has developed a simple database which he also uses for keeping his own records. I'll ask him to e-mail you a copy if he has.

John R
The best assessment/competency tools I've used are the one from the companies themselves. You need to be on a 'Train the Trainer Course' (run by various companies)and discuss ways to assess with the companies' own trainers. They're extremely helpful. You'll need to write your competency 'test' to cover whatever you equipment does e.g. with infusion pumps, test on rate calculation, occlusion pressures, primary/secondary infusions etc. You'll need to cover EVERY aspect....'cause they ask you some awkward questions at times ! Good luck.

Thanks for your advice Huw.I will speak to you on your own experiences in establishing a training programme.I met Paul Lee from the Royal Glamorgan and he gave me a lot of excellent pointers on how best to proceed.The more people I contact the better the training system will turn out ,hopefully.
Regards
John R.

Soapbox Moment!
Since most untoward incidents are the result of lack of user training ,this competency training and recording is essential for all staff,but some hospitals are way behind others.This question is vital to the NHS,and the star ratings are based in part on having systems in place.
Ideally it should be standardised from the start.

It should not be left to individual hospitals to have to constantly reinvent the system;there should be a national register using the existing human resource /professional registers and staff certification should be portable and have standard elements.Perhaps ECRI and/or the MDA can provide templates?
It is no small task.

Hi All

With reference to the Mr Ridddle's 1st comment, we at Royal Shrewsbury have written our own Central Training Database (CTD) with a VB backend and Access front end. This database has been running well and generating some useful reports for over 6 months now. We are currently working on linking the CTD with our EBME asset register software so we can easily identify which nurses in which ward areas require which training. Last month the CNST assessors were more than happy with our solution. (level 2)

Nationally the NHS are working on ESR (electronic Staff Record) which will include a training module but we have been made aware that the earliest this will be rolled out into hospitals is 01/10/03!!!

As per Royal Shrewsbury's Medical Equipment training policy (and risk assessment) we have identified infusion devices as the most appropriate products to start training on. I have through much battling managed to get equipment training sessions included on Medical staff's stat training days. As the Trust has standardised on Alaris infusion products I am delivering their Competency based training packages.