EBME Forums Forums Management Modernisation (Formerly, Controls Assurance) Thermometers

What control do these companies have over how these "devices" are used (and the environments they are used in); how often do they take a look at them?

Are we to understand that they totally disregard stuff like electrical safety, then?

Sorry Kevin, to my mind that's a fail.

What's your ultimate "vision for biomed", Mate ... that the in-house guys simply slink away and surrender the field to occasional visits from "manufacturers" from who-knows-where ... or what?

What's the status of CPAP units run for five years without a filter change - or a wipe down with a disinfecting cloth? "Gopping", I should imagine.

What's the status of CPAP units run for five years without a filter change - or a wipe down with a disinfecting cloth? "Gopping", I should imagine.[/quote]

This is so true, but when you cant manage the device (even the clinical staff cant manage the swap out) then we should really start looking at these devices as disposable devices.

If the management cannot manage the devices, then (by definition) management has failed.

It sounds to me like these hospitals you are talking about need to get a grip!

Meanwhile, here's an idea:- let the patients buy the kit they need; then they can do whatever they want with it.

PS: at one place I worked a few years back patients used to come in every now and then for "follow up". They had to bring their CPAP etc. devices with them. One of us used to go along and attend the session to check out the devices - functional check, filter changes and so forth. Surely the clinical staff can manage something like that?

totally disagree about not servicing, what happens if a piece of kit causes harm or death to a patient?? the first thing asked for will be the service history as with CQC inspections. I understand that it is a pain finding equipment but if you do best effort then the onus is on the user that's why we have next test due labels.

"Hand-holding" (of clinical staff by the biomeds) has been going on so long that it has become the norm (a de facto tradition).

Unless Senior Management dishes up more resources for in-house biomedical engineering teams commensurate with the ever-increasing workload (more equipment, more regulatory demands etc.) - which, I suppose, is unlikely in most cases - then something has to give.

So:- no more hand-holding; user staff must take responsibility for their inventories.

We look forward to the day when the only calls we get from user departments are along the lines of "When are you coming to service my kit? The stickers say you are due this week"!

And, I might add, "property management" (the tracking down of assets, and asset management in general) is the job of Property Control.

We already provide a service that will PPM a CPAP when the patient comes in for a clinical appointment ...... the problem is we have over 3000 CPAP machines.

So you do PM CPAP units, then.

OK ... it sounds like you need more resources.

Best speak to Senior Management. Don't forget to mention the thermometers, nebulizer compressors et al.

We did, however CPAP now come with 5 years warranty and no service ....... 3000 CPAP assets and it grows every month :-)

A PM programme for 3,000 simple pieces of kit sounds like a nice little contract opportunity to me.

Nearly as good as the £250 a PPM per T34 I know someone is charging ................