PHILADELPHIA AREA MEDICAL
INSTRUMENTATION ASSOCIATION

The Voice of Philadelphia Clinical Engineering

June PAMIA Meeting and Presentation

Sponsored and hosted by the ECRI Institute on June 10th, Tim Ritter presented

Assessing Scheduled Support of Medical Equipment

PowerPoint of presentation: click here

David Bell awarded at June PAMIA Meeting at ECRI Institute

Presented with the 2008 William Copestakes Memorial Award

David S. Bell was one of the founding fathers of PAMIA. In the mid 1970’s, Dave, along with Bill Copestakes, Joe Lewandowski and a few others, created PAMIA. In the beginning, the organization was named PACE, an acronym believed to stand for the Philadelphia Association of Clinical Engineers. The name was changed to the Philadelphia Area Medical Instrumentation Association, PAMIA, to include all in the profession.

Dave was the Director of Biomedical Engineering at Children’s Hospital before moving to Thomas Jefferson’s Department of Biomedical Instrumentation in 1988. He spent the rest of his career at Jefferson as assistant director and then director, retiring in 2007.

Many PAMIA members worked with Dave over the years, and he was a mentor to many of us.

Dave's impact on our profession in the Philadelphia area and beyond was recognized at the ECRI Institute as he was presented the William Copestakes Memorial Award.

Dave is enjoying retirement with his wife, two daughters and grandchildren.

New Healthcare IT Survey Pinpoints Professional Needs

Medical technology and IT professionals are hungry for information on emerging technologies and guidance on the integration of IT systems in the healthcare environment, according to the results of a major new industry survey.

The online survey was conducted recently by the new CE-IT Community, a coalition of three national associations including the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), the American College of Clinical Engineering (ACCE), and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).

The survey—which attracted more than 470 respondents—was developed to identify the major needs facing the members of the three sponsoring organizations, so that the CE-IT Community could then address those needs through several specific projects in the months ahead.

According to the survey results, the overwhelming majority of the respondents want the CE-IT Community to develop and share best practices and to be kept informed about new standards and regulations and new technologies. In addition, the majority of the respondents said that it would be helpful if the CE-IT Community helped ensure that new technology weaves into current technology without precluding connectivity in the future.

The respondents also expressed strong support for sharing business plans, goals, and mission statements between IT and clinical engineering groups, and a desire to gather diverse stakeholders to discuss IT issues of mutual interest.

When asked which specific CE-IT issues they would want addressed, there were several specific requests. Respondents asked for more guidance on:

Integration of systems/devices in multi-vendor environment
Developing an IT infrastructure to adequately support medical technology
Recommendations and guidance on implementing new technologies, including wireless systems, and
Guidance on FDA regulations

Survey respondents also said they wanted more guidance on developing a collaborative relationship between IT and clinical engineering; and up-to-date information on IT standards, IT issues related to facility upgrades and the environment, and IT security issues. Issues that scored the lowest were guidance on picture archiving and communications systems, deploying intranet technology, and upgrades of network infrastructure.

The survey results and the proposed projects that will be undertaken will be explored during an online IT Town Hall meeting, which will be held on Tuesday, July 15 at 2 pm ET. Details of the conference call will be available at www.ceitcollaboration.org.

The survey, which was e-mailed to AAMI, ACCE, and HIMSS members in April, generated responses from biomedical equipment technicians, clinical engineers, chief information officers, programmers, systems analysts, consultants, professors, physicians, and nurses.

More than 65% of the respondents work in hospitals, while 12% are employed at device manufacturers, 8% at academic institutions, 6% at consulting firms, and 9% at other employers.

The CE-IT Steering Committee, which comprises two representatives from each of the three organizations and professional staff, will now analyze the survey results and begin launching projects to address these needs.

“These results are very useful in helping us pinpoint the specific needs of the community, and what projects to undertake to benefit members of all three organizations,” says Bob Stiefel, CCE, director of clinical engineering at the University of Maryland Medical Center and one of AAMI’s representatives on the CE-IT Steering Committee.

“From these survey results and the additional feedback I have been receiving from our members, it is clear the CE-IT initiatives contemplated by our coalition are drawing an unprecedented level of interest in our common community,” adds Stephen L. Grimes, FACCE FHIMSS FAIMBE, ACCE president. “ACCE believes the collaborative efforts of our coalition will greatly benefit the members of each of our organizations and the healthcare process overall and we are therefore committed to this community’s success.”

Others who are serving on the CE-IT Steering Committee include Ray Laxton representing AAMI, Ray Zambuto representing ACCE, and Leanne Cordisco and Izabella Gieras representing HIMSS.

As an alliance, the three organizations in the CE-IT Community represent thousands of biomedical equipment technicians, clinical engineers, IT professionals, clinicians, and other medical technology professionals around the world.

“This new community will leverage the diversity and resources of all three organizations, creating opportunities to work together on common issues identified in the survey including integration of systems/devices, guidance on new technologies and the use and implementation of wireless systems,” says Joyce Sensmeier MS, RN-BC, CPHIMS, FHIMSS, Vice President, Informatics, HIMSS.

By pooling resources through this collaboration, the three groups are seeking to foster a united voice for IT and clinical engineering concerns; and develop important resources, best practices, and networking opportunities to advance the interests of CE-IT issues in healthcare.

For For more information about this effort, visit www.ceitcollaboration.org or contact Ray Zambuto at RZambuto@ACCENET.ORG.

Related links: AAMI: www.aami.org | HIMSS: www.himss.org | ACCE: www.accenet.org

2008-09 ACCE Teleconference Series Starts July 17

Since 1995, ACCE has been offering audio teleconferences on current and emerging topics in clinical engineering. This year’s topics include 2009 Joint Commission medical equipment standards, revisions to NFPA 99, applying Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) techniques to equipment maintenance, certification in clinical engineering (CCE), radiation and MRI safety, fundamentals of RF/Wireless, CE/IT Collaboration—a case study in medical device interface, and much more! A group of leading clinical engineers will speak at the next ACCE teleconference series.

The view the schedule and registration form please visit http://www.accenet.org/downloads/TeleconferenceBrochure2008-2009.doc

AAMI: IT Integration, and Promoting the Profession

IT Integration — AAMI has joined forces with ACCE and HIMSS to develop guidance on IT integration issues. To read more about the project, click here.

Manny Roman — Missed the profile of DITEC's Manny Roman published in AAMI News? If so, here it is. Feel free to republish this profile in your publication or on your website. Please note that this article was "Reprinted with permission from the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), www.aami.org."

Welcome — A special welcome to local biomedical associations that have recently joined or rejoined AAMI. They include the Georgia Biomedical Instrumentation Society, the Virginia Biomedical Association, the North Texas Biomedical Association, and the Biomedical Associations of Wisconsin. If your association is interested in joining AAMI, see details below.

Interested? — Local, state, and regional biomedical associations can join AAMI for $100 a year. As an AAMI member, your association would receive special society benefits plus you can name 3 individuals from your association to receive full AAMI member benefits. Some associations give these memberships to their leaders, while others give these memberships as door prizes or scholarships. To join AAMI as a society member, simply submit this Biomedical Society Membership Application.

Just Released — AAMI has just released a new CD collection that includes nearly 200 clinical engineering articles published by AAMI. It covers topics such as equipment replacement planning, benchmarking, educating clinical personnel, call centers, Joint Commission issues, electromagnetic compatibility, etc. For more information, click here.

Promoting the Profession — Congratulations to TMC Member Ken Maddock, who authored an article in the latest edition of Nurse Leader magazine. The article, entitled "Getting the Most out of Your Clinical Engineering Department," is part of the TMC's efforts to educate and promote the field to others. To view a summary or the complete article, click here.

AAMI's Clinical Engineering Collection

AAMI has just released a major revision of its popular Clinical Engineering Collection, which includes significant updates and new additions.

The Clinical Engineering Collection is an extensive compilation of AAMI's best-selling resources for clinical engineers, biomedical equipment technicians, and other medical technology professionals. The new 2008 edition now includes the:

Electrical Safety Manual, 2008 edition
The Fundamental Collection, 2007 edition
IT World Reference CD: A Biomed's Guide
The CE Management Guide: Lessons from the Field, and
AAMI's 2008 Employment Survey

In addition, the new Clinical Engineering Collection also includes all eight editions of AAMI's Horizons publication; as well as several other popular AAMI resources noted at the link below.

This CD is quick and easy to use thanks to convenient, high-powered search and find functions. The introductory rate for the Clinical Engineering Collection is $595 (AAMI members: $425.)

For a complete list of CD contents, click here. To order your CD, visit http://marketplace.aami.org, or call 877-249-8226. The order code is CEC and the source code is PBFE.

BMET Advocacy Brochure

AAMI has created a new brochure to encourage more students to consider the biomedical field as a career option. The attractive, four-color brochure is designed to help healthcare facilities, schools, biomed societies, manufacturers, and biomed recruiters attract more biomeds to the field.

AAMI would like to offer complimentary copies of this brochure to share with local high schools, community colleges and universities. If you are interested, please , VP of Marketing and Communications.

To view the brochure, click here

US Army's Soldier's Manual Released To The Public

The US Army's Soldier's Manual and Training Guide for Medical Equipment Repairer. This Manual has been released to the public with unlimited distribution rights and is available online.

This manual details how to perform Electrical Safety Checks per the NFPA, as well as, detailed instructions on performing Preventive Maintenance, Repairs, and Calibrations on Dental Equipment, OR Equipment, Laboratory Equipment, Ward Equipment, X-Ray Equipment, and Central Material Supply (Sterilizers) Equipment. There is also a section on advances repairs which instructs on the repair of Dental X-ray, Blood Recovery Units, Tabletop Centrifuges, Monitor / Recorders, Defibrillators, Portable Ventilators, Single Phase X-Ray, Programmable Suctions Pumps, and an ESU.

Click here for a PDF copy of this 158 page manual.

AAMI: What’s On Your Mind?

Do you have an idea for improving efficiency in your department? An untested way of doing things that you think just might work? What about a rant you want to get off your chest?

You can get your ideas in front of 14,000 medical technology professionals! Consider writing a “Final Word” editorial for Biomedical Instrumentation & Technology, the journal of the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation.

For more information, please contact Ed Snyder at Ed.Snyder@jeffersonhospital.org or 215-503-3264.

Associations Team Up to Advance Clinical Engineering/ IT Integration

Plymouth Meeting PA, Arlington VA, Chicago IL — Three national associations have joined forces to develop guidance documents, share best practices, and promote an understanding of the issues surrounding the ongoing integration of information technology (IT) and clinical engineering.

Leaders of the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), the American College of Clinical Engineering (ACCE), and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) have signed an agreement to develop a joint Clinical Engineering/IT (CEIT) community, thus pooling their expertise and knowledge and avoiding the duplication of efforts under way.

The agreement is intended to help improve patient care and safety and to boost the quality and cost-effectiveness of customer service. The agreement also seeks to:

Foster further development of a united voice for IT and clinical engineering concerns, and provide a forum for its expression.
Provide a mechanism for developing resources, guidelines, and best practices for the CEIT community, and provide education, research, certification, public policy, terminology, mentoring, advocacy, networking, and career services.
Explore appropriate collaboration of clinical engineering/IT functions.
Develop a framework for representing the interests of clinical engineering and IT departments to the broader healthcare community.

“For the first time, we have a written agreement that addresses collaboration on many of the issues clinical engineers and IT professionals have been attempting to iron out,” says Bob Stiefel, the chair of AAMI’s Board of Directors and clinical engineering director at the University of Maryland Medical System.

Stiefel is also a member of AAMI’s Technology Management Council (TMC), which represents technology managers from hospitals, biomedical societies, and industry. The TMC recently launched a new project designed to assess the current status of technology management within healthcare facilities and explore the field’s future challenges and opportunities.

Stephen Grimes , president of ACCE, agrees. “Our members and leadership recognize that CE-IT convergence and collaboration is of critical importance to the industry and its ability to deliver quality patient care. They believe this agreement provides a solid foundation on which we can work together to build a framework of programs and resources to address the challenges of convergence.”

According to Joyce Sensmeier, vice president of informatics with HIMSS, “as patient care devices take advantage of ‘smart’ technology and become more interoperable, IT experts and clinicians must work together to ensure that workflow issues are addressed. Together, we can define a vision of the future in healthcare delivery.”

For more information about this effort, contact Steve Grimes at Stephen.grimes@techmed.lincfs.com

Related links: AAMI: www.aami.org | HIMSS: www.himss.org | ACCE: www.accenet.org