How do you scientifically determine the effect of something on something else? The answer (in whatever form it may take and regardless of the branch of science from which it originates) may often be answered through use of a well-established statistical technique referred to as regression analysis. It is through the application and appropriate use […]
August 9, 2017
Alan Lipschultz: Are You Ready? Two Big Changes on the Horizon for HTM
Two standards in development will, if approved, significantly impact the healthcare technology management (HTM) field. If they aren’t already on your organization’s radar, they should be. The first one involves a push by medical device manufacturers to get hospital-based and non–manufacturer-based service organizations to follow some of the quality systems requirements that manufacturers currently follow. […]
August 8, 2017
William Hyman: Reauthorization Bill Calls for FDA Report on Medical Device Service
The FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017 completed its passage through Congress on Aug. 3, and the bill will become law once signed by President Trump. Although a major focus of this legislation is FDA user fees that are paid by manufacturers, it also addresses a number of other topics, including a favorite of everyone involved […]
August 3, 2017
Mike Ahmadi: When It Comes to Cybersecurity, the Regulatory Will Is Weak
I want to tell a story. I grew up in Cleveland Ohio, a city that has always held its place in the top two or three cities that everyone likes to poke fun at for being a place where you do not want to live—or so it was for most of my life. Thankfully, it […]
August 1, 2017
Paul Kelley: Of Crabs, Crawdads, and HTM
Have you ever seen a bucket of crabs or crawdads? You can put them all in the bucket and not worry about any escaping because as one tries to crawl up and out of the bucket, the others grab it and pull it back. It’s akin to a mindset of, “If I can’t have it, […]
July 24, 2017
Rose Seavey: Key to Effective Sterilization Lies in Clear, Practical Guidance
The proper cleaning and decontamination of medical instruments is a crucial part of safe patient care. In recognition of that fact, we have a community of experts who are dedicated to the development of standards that help to guide sterile processing professionals. A standard for sterile processing is only as good as its clarity and […]
July 18, 2017
Robert Sayle: What Does Cybersecurity Need? Supplicants
Mornin’, biomed! It’s Bob in IT. I was just on my way to a meeting next door, and I thought I’d drop by to say hello. I wanted to follow-up with you about my request to have you start collecting MAC addresses as part of your staging process. Here’s the thing: MAC addresses are what […]
July 10, 2017
Donald Armstrong: Network, Network, Network!!!
You may think I am talking about your hospital’s IT network, but you would be incorrect. At the recent AAMI conference (my favorite one, so far), there were many presentations and discussions about networks and networks security, but the best moments at the conference involved another kind of network: the networking I did with my […]
July 6, 2017
William Hyman: Can the FDA Solve the Service Manual Problem?
The latest addition to the long-running battle over adequate access to service manuals for medical devices is The Joint Commission’s (TJC) announcement, via George Mills, at the recent AAMI Annual Conference that starting in January there will be a new element of performance, EC.01.01.01, EP 3, which states: “The organization has a library of information […]
June 29, 2017
Priyanka Upendra: Give a Little, Get a Lot
If you’re a healthcare technology management (HTM) professional, AAMI offers you a great way to stay current with standards and technological advances, connect with experts, be a part of initiatives and workgroups that facilitate safe and reliable patient care, and learn in general about developments across the healthcare industry. Although I have been following AAMI […]
August 11, 2017
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