AAMIBlog

A couple of years ago, I participated in an informal study. The study centered on improving patient satisfaction scores.  During a three-day stay, the patient interfaced with an average of 64 hospital staff members. Blue scrubs. Grey scrubs. Green scrubs. No scrubs. White coats. Blue coats. Long coats. Short coats. Name tags. No name tags. […]

In April, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced HR 2163, the Medical Device Guardians Act. This act proposes to add physicians and physician offices to those that must report medical devices misadventures under the FDA’s Medical Device Reporting (MDR) requirements. The legislation excels in brevity and simplicity by amending the term “covered device user facility” in […]

This past week, we experienced two major natural events that affected a large part of our nation. First, the rapid trajectory of our sun and moon across our continent created, for many, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a full solar eclipse. But then, the slow and lumbering trajectory of Hurricane Harvey across the Texas Gulf […]

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 […]

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 […]

Think about the last time you saw a demonstration of a new medical device. Were you guided through all the new and innovative features by an expert who was able to step in and assist with any questions or difficulties as you tried it for the first time? Now think about the last time you […]

Remote monitoring and virtual surveillance are quickly becoming a top priority at hospitals across the country. One of the main drivers is the growth of health systems where the main campus is looking for ways to remotely monitor its rural and sub-acute facility patients. Another driver is the desire to remotely monitor patients in higher […]

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 […]

The evolving science of patient safety in today’s hospitals and other healthcare facilities is about protecting patients from injury and death while they are being treated for illnesses or other conditions. Over the past two decades, patient safety has gained quite a bit of attention, recognized worldwide with new strategies and recommendations being outlined all […]