EBME Forums Forums Maintenance Technical Assistance Changing the Time Winter / Summer

I would be interested if anyone has a policy or changes the time from Winter to Summer? I have had a request from the clinical staff to ensure that devices are all on the correct setting. Personally I think this is a user task if technical codes are not required and I also have better things to do with my time if a technical code is required ....

KSF ........ Ancient and Moo Moo

Welcome to the forum, Kevin.

I agree that it's a Users' Task. I would go further and suggest that if the "time stamps" on printouts, internal equipment logs, infusion records etc. are deemed to be clinically (or legally) important, then the user should check them against the Master Clock (whatever or wherever that is deemed to be) every month/week/day/before use (whenever, in accordance with "hospital policy").

However, this topic has been discussed on here a number of times before (see below).

I don't know about "policy", but personally I'm a Zulu (that is, GMT) man myself, and I would urge everyone throughout the Empire to follow suit. Pip, pip.

Perhaps it would prove more cost effective (not to mention lead to less uncertainty) if all hospitals displayed prominent signs declaring:-

"All clocks and timings in this hospital are to GMT"!

Other than that, maybe funding needs to be set aside for agency technicians to perform the twice-yearly ritual (aka waste of time). But even then, would they find them all (items of kit with a RTC)?

Old threads:-

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Hi, and indeed, welcome to the forum Kevin.

I moved your post to "general assistance" 'cos that seemed a better place for it. Hope that was ok.

As to the question of date/time, we tend to have an attitude of, if the time/date stamp forms a part of the medical record be that a printout or direct transfer to an EMR system then it has to be changed and we, the biomeds, take on that task so that we know it is done correctly and consistently. As to the other equipment, stuff it, they never notice anyway.

As to Geoff's leave it on GMT idea, no, absolutely not, having an "incorrect" date/time stamp on a medical record is a legal risk not worth taking.

So, yes, it's a pain but it is also necessary.

Ta, Dave

GMT(UTC)+11 in your case, Dave.

Meanwhile, who decides which items fall into the "stuff it" category? Also, how accurate is the list (of items to be fiddled with twice a year)? How can you be sure that none are missed? It all sounds a bit random to me (aka a law suit waiting to happen - for those who worry overly much about that sort of thing).

Also - what is the "rule" regarding accuracy? Plus or minus what against what? I have seen hospital wall clocks that were way out, that rarely agreed, sometimes stopped (aka "correct twice a day") and even running backwards!

And lastly:- 12-hour or 24-hour notation? Hopefully the latter.

As I believe I may have mentioned on here some years ago, if these "date/time stamps" are deemed to be so important, then how come "technology" hasn't got around to sorting out automatic time syncs to a Master Clock?

It's fairly simple really.

First up, these days most hospital wall clocks are indeed linked to a master clock so that's sorted.

Second, think of things with a printout, so, defibs, CTG, ECG, monitoring systems etc. Do we worry about infusion pumps, nope, not unless they are directly linked into an EMR in which case the EMR time stamp will override anyway. So it's that kind of thinking that is required.

As we move towards more and more equipment being connected to wireless networks I expect we will increasing see that master clocks will come into play which will simplify matters but for the moment we just apply rules as above.

As to who decides what falls into the "stuff it" category, well, me of course

Hello all,

I think I will stick to the GMT, if the clinical staff have access to the device (i.e. via the user menu) then that's a clinical decision for them. I will stick to the age old answer "That would be an ecumenical matter" ....

KSF ..... Living the Dream

Very wise.

Also neatly side-stepping the issues of accuracy, and 12-v-24.

No harm in checking (adjusting) the RTC during PM, though.

I would prefer that all clocks are set 24, however I think this is a clinical decision that should be made on how the site operates.

KSF ...... Back in the UK for a bit.

Just out of interest, has anybody come across any medical kit (apart from those wrapped around a PC) that does the clock change automatically?

After all, it's not that difficult to program ... but would need yet more "config" settings, of course:-

1) Automatic time change: Y/N
2) Time zone:- GMT+(?) etc.

But also complicated by "Regional Differences" ... DST changes in the USA occur at different weekends to GMT<->GMT+1(BST) in the UK, for example.

As mentioned in earlier posts, perhaps the "Global Village" would be better off sticking to Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) - which happens to be the same as GMT - at all times, right across the globe. Either that, or "internet time"!

The only savour we have is central connectivity for the monitor and crs connecting to some devices that centrally update the clocks. Apart from this it's a fat no.
Sorry for this and my guys have to walk and change but allows for the define to have a full check at the same time.
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