Survey Results for Most Pertinent Issues Affecting HTM Professionals Today

In today’s edition of the MedWrench blog I want to highlight some recent findings from our “MedWrench: A User’s Guide to FREE Industry Resources” webinar survey. On December 17^th, MedWrench presented our webinar to over 400 registered attendees. After presenting the webinar, we asked our attendees to complete a quick survey. Below you will find the answers to one of the questions asked within that survey.

In your opinion, what are the most pertinent issues affecting HTM Professionals today?

• IT and Biomed mergers
• Cost of Repairs, Equipment Reliablility, Networking Interface, Training, Availability of information
• Training, Salary, Time Management
• Cost, Cost, Cost, Cost, Cost
• CMS, TJC, State Depts. of health
• Locating information
• Obtaining proper procedures and service manuals
• Fulfilling JCo regulations, especially OEM PM Recommendations
• Device security
• Alarm management, tech manual access, parts for older equipment, not enough techs, education
• Quality of service, parts, finding manuals, recalls, OEM not sharing information
• Availability of service manuals and parts
• Saving money, doing more with less
• Spending/Saving, uptime,
• IT connectivity, Cost reduction, quality, home health, regulation requirements information
• Service Manual, PM procedures, Rules and Regulations, HIPPA & Joint Commission
• Cost containment, capital budgeting, challenges of capital equipment replacement of EOL or EOS equipment,
• Service options, computer/IT interfaces, certification one source or not, aging poulation of tech, one size fits all mentality of management
• New Products
• Device integration, continual blurring of the biomed vs. IS line, Lack of Capital Funding, Aging workforce, Data Overload
• EPR, electrical safety, in-house service value compared to OEM, cost savings, access to readily available parts
• Connectivity, knowledge of computer based equipment, parts, networking with others.
• Lack of information, Bad Marketing, Proprietorship, End of life on certain items, FDA lack of clarity
• Inventory Control/Asset Management, Asset Tracking, Preventive Maintenance Tracking, and Cost of Use tracking
• Alarm Awareness, DNV, Continuing Education Credits for CBET, SM Requirements, Personnel management issues
• Lack of specialized training and Service Manuals
• Lack of visibility, Lack of standardized training and advanced training, Lack of Upward Mobility career paths to management, Lack of Professional Support, Lack of worldwide meetings and congresses
• Networking Medical Equipment, Service Training, Continued Education, Keeping up with new Regulations and RECALLS
• Time, Money, Ease of use for getting parts they need, OEM knowledge for IT, Red Tape
• Lack of time to manage all aspects of the job
• Service documentation, parts availability, training affordability, lack of standardization on EMR/EHR protocols, parts pricing
• Getting useful information on issues with the equipment w/o calling for service
• Paying the high service costs or service contracts
• Finding reliable used equipment
• Regulatory issues, time constraints, money constraints, training & equipment recalls
• Wireless security, continuing education, health and safety, meeting customers' needs
• Integration to the EHR
• Limited Time, Limited Financial Resources, Expense, Older Equipment, Lack of data driven decisions
• Support, Image (within the Facility), Training, Availability of parts, Service Information to troubleshoot equipment
• Using your resources, keeping up with technology, continued education, Regulation updates
• Alarms, dose, CMS regulations/compliance, cost management, getting manufacturer procedures and manuals
• Regulation, safety, ease of information, Equipment / IT relationship, Imaging
• CMS JCAHO changes, staffing to needs, alternate PM methodologies, new service avenues such as lab, surgical instruments, endoscopes, managing nontraditional service lines to improve visibility and impact with Supply Chain and customers
• Government regulation in the form of decrees from CMS, IT integration, establishing certifications that are relevant to today's HTM environment, manufacturers obsoleting equipment faster than ever, and keeping current with changing standards and their interpretations
• Inability to receive information or training from OEM's because they utilize their "FDA Blanket" - I.E. Manufactures can refuse providing information because the FDA has stated that only qualified or trained personnel can work on specific equipment.  OEM's will use this to state only their trained staff is qualified and thus they do not have to train hospital personnel or especially 3rd party without charging exorbitant prices
• Lack of service documentation, Lack of component level replacement parts, Multi-layer boards, networking and Computer Infrastructure, Standardized Equipment Records Systems
• Training, safety, job growth, getting facilities to understand what we bring to the table, cost savings, working with vendors
• Resources, education, logistics, job growth, Manufacturers not providing service manuals or training on equipment
• Pass codes, Software upgrades, FEB, Response call backs, India
• Training, Budget, Miscommunication when planning high scale activities, lack of human resources to complete critical services/maintenance on time, career development within job
• In-house respect, lack of OEM technical information availability, training, unprofessionalism and lack of desire to learn
• Software integration, training, finding employees with experience, staying within budget, dealing with HIPPA
• Getting information, having access to equipment, finding parts, talking to others who have knowledge of equipment I am working on, and training on equipment service
• The new Alternate Equipment Maintenance requirements from CMS; the ongoing integration of IT and Clinical Engineering departments; the balance between service contract purchases vs. self-insurance to reduce ongoing equipment support costs; employee retention; the nearly exponential increase in manufacturer recalls and health device alerts
• Wages, Benefits, Work Environment, Advancement Opportunities, Continuing Education
• Spare parts, third-party vendors, obsolete equipment, high cost of repair & training
• Education, Availability of Resources, Technical Support, C-Suite Support, Funding

If any of our users have any other pertinent issues affecting HTM Professionals today please post them below in our comments section!