AAMIBlog

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Clinical staffers spend about 20% of their time on documentation alone. While it’s difficult to summarize the error rates, studies show that they range from 5% to 95%, depending upon the condition, patient, and measurement. Inaccurate documentation has many risks, from clinical risks such as cherry-picked vitals and handoff, to financial risks such as revenue […]

About six years ago, our organization started down the path to develop and implement an in-house imaging equipment service program. Early on, we decided that some of our key areas of focus included the need to reduce costs, maintain or improve service quality, meet or exceed caregiver expectations, and provide a safe environment for everyone […]