EBME Forums Forums Management Modernisation (Formerly, Controls Assurance) Medical Device IT Integration Strategy

That's why you need a Technical Services Director ... to crack the whip!

The whole concern/issue I have with not having a well planned and resourced strategy is that there will be potentially dangerous divergence of standards/control.

Just because we can connect a device or Integrate its data, it doesn't necessarily mean we should.

There are a good few articles out there with respect to hacking of networks (including medical equipment). People hacking or modifying data, then there's the whole minefield of patient confidentiality.

IT would have to take care of all of the above under the guidance of iso 80001-1

At this moment, I'm feeling that although the potential is out there, the risks of going it alone as an organisation without payment/sign off by the OEM would be a dangerous game.

Joe,
Then I would suggest to keep the medical device network separate from the Main hospital network.

Keep a separate server, switches and router independent from the rest of the hospital network. This is how we managed in our OR and ICU departments. The Server then would have proper security to send and receive data from HIS/EMR/RIS systems.

But again you need to think with an overall strategy as to what you want to achieve and what your objectives are. Device interoperability, integration and interface is every changing.

Hence your upper management need to bring the IT and Biomed department to work together. Leave the egos behind and work as a team.

Not all devices are network capable, some will be using CAN, Serial DB-9 communication protocols etc and some proprietary communication protocols which is another hurdle you have to deal with.

Cheers
Tim

We have been successful and have an integrated plan and are interfacing happily to crs through hl7 and can I help?.. Pm me