EBME Forums Forums Management Medical Equipment Management On-Call

Yes, Kevin ... perhaps Bill could be persuaded to re-address his thread to include something along the lines of:-

"For those of you who provide an On-Call service ... what are the usual reasons for the tech being called in"?

If a large number replied to that, then the results would not only be interesting, but might also point the way to what remedies may be needed:- more user training, for example ... or more kit needed in the Equipment Library, or whatever.

I like to think of the on-call system as a form of insurance. You hope you don't need it but it's there if you do. I've heard managers saying that it is not worth doing because they get so few callouts, but when the proverbial approaches the spinny thing you know help is at hand.

There are two things being discussed here:-

1) On-call
2) Shift working

... related for sure; but different.

As many will remember, being added to the On-Call roster was traditionally seen as something of a Right of Passage! However (rather like electrical safety testing), continuing to do something just because we've always done it might not be enough to convince the "managers" of the Modern World.

Personally, I agree that it is generally prudent to have an On-Call system. But (like everything else) it needs to be properly set-up and administered correctly. Large hospitals may need to have more than one tech on-call at any one time, in order to cover the various specialities.

However, many of all will also be aware that "on-call" can also be abused (by both the users, and also - sadly - by the techs themselves). That's why the Manager needs to keep a close eye on it; by, for example, having a debrief following each call-in.

But what about shift work? Two shifts? Three (24-hour cover on site)? 24x7? "Office hours" only? Or what?

As already implied, I am in favour of 24x7 myself. One of the nice things about always having a tech on site is that (once the users have been made aware of that) the tech becomes the first point of call when help is needed. There is only the one number to ring! The tech can go along to take a look at the problem, and either sort it out (advise or reassure the staff, whatever) or, if need be, contact the on-call specialist for the kit concerned*. After all, it's always nice to feel that back-up is available if needed.

* That was how it was handled at one place I worked at as an Agency Tech. I would go along and take a look, and call for reinforcements if need be (or, as happened on one occasion ... the user wasn't happy with what I advised).

Bill

Apologies for delay in responding but as you guessed should a Defib go down there is spare devices in the library and staff work around any other major issues.

For those who do on-call, can you answer a simple question, please. What repairs can be done in the middle of the night? If the end user has to wait an hour for you to get there and another hour for you to do the repair,(including post repair function and safety tests), why can they not wait to morning?
Anaesthetic machines and vents take time to respond to and fix in the mean time the patient is being kept alive by alternative means so it is often easier to find a replacement than to wait on a technician to arrive and attempt a repair. I say attempt as in reality it is either a simple fault that the user could have fixed or a major breakdown which takes a long time to fix - if you have the parts on the shelf.

In my opinion spare machines and sensible staff (i.e. those who can think around a problem such as borrowing from else where) make on-call redundant.

The exception to this is where you directly support clinical activities, such as ward based blood analysers etc.
Robert

I do remember being called for a mains lead once only to find it still on the nurses station in the morning. It is easier to bleep than to think!

Rojo

A valid point "In my opinion spare machines and sensible staff (i.e. those who can think around a problem such as borrowing from else where) make on-call redundant." and would also ask what will the on-call technician be able to do as there are multiple technologies involved? Unless there are multiple on-call technicians, which would not be cost effective, then having on-call maybe classed as a wasteful resource. Just my opinion:)

Where does one buy one of these "sensible staff". In 25 years in Biomed, public and private sector, I've yet to meet one

I seldom get called to portable equipment that needs a bench repair. As stated staff usually get another device.There are two patient data management systems (PDMS) and four patient monitoring systems that I usually get called to. The PDMS require applications in the database to be restarted to get the service running. This is an IT job and may be considered 'mission creep' for an EBME Dept, but as we move towards paperless technologies it appears to be the trend.With the modular patient monitors it can be hard for staff to figure out which part is faulty so they need someone to fault find.

Dave beat me to it. I guess if staff are mollycoddled then they will expect others to "wipe their bums" for them.
We don't get many callouts but we do try to resolve the problems over the phone in the first instance.
Just got to thinking of some of the calls I've had. Perhaps we should start a new post to talk about the daftest callouts we've had?

One that springs to mind was a call from a ward with central monitoring where the central station had gone down. I rushed in and checked the central control unit (computer) only to find that some unmentionable had stuffed their bag under the desk, behind the computer & switched it off. So where do we get sensible staff from?

Called in to adjust available TV channels for a private patient so that she could watch the French Tennis open tournament?