http://www.aami.org/news/ The latest news from AAMI http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Jitbit RSS Feed Creator Fri, 24 May 2013 13:27:42 -0400 The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), a sponsor of the Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise's (IHE's) Patient Care Device (PCD) Domain, will cohost an interoperability demonstration at its 2013 Conference & Expo, June 1-3 in Long Beach, CA. Several companies---including Accent on Integration, Amcom Software, Awarepoint, B. Braun, Capsule, Cerner, Covidien, EQ2, Hospira, and Philips Healthcare---will show how their enterprise applications and medical devices share information using industry-standard integration protocols.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/052413_Press_Medical _Device_Interoperability_Demonstration.htmlFri, 24 May 2013 13:27:42 -0400 A mother working on a dual major in biomedical equipment technology and medical imaging technology and a student pursuing his master's at the University of Connecticut have been selected as the winners of the AAMI Foundation's Michael J. Miller Scholarship for 2013.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/052313_Press_AAMI_Foundation_Names_Scholarship_Winners.htmlThu, 23 May 2013 11:15:44 -0400 In honor of Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) Week 2013, AAMI's Technology Management Council (TMC) is proud to present the Bright Ideas Award to the Clinical Engineering (CE) Department at Archbold Medical Center in Thomasville, GA.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/052213_Press_AAMI_Bright_Ideas_Award.htmlWed, 22 May 2013 14:35:31 -0400 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has released a highly anticipated final guidance document designed to help medical device manufacturers that are seeking an appeal of decisions made by reviewers at the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH).http://www.aami.org/news/2013/052213_CDRH_Appeals_Guidance_Document.htmlWed, 22 May 2013 12:22:04 -0400 For their work on ensuring patient safety, members of the AAMI Foundation's Healthcare Technology Safety Institute (HTSI) accepted a big award Monday during the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses' (AACN) 2013 National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition in Boston. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/052013_HTSI_Takes_Home_Pioneering_Spirit_Award.htmlMon, 20 May 2013 13:54:45 -0400 There's nothing like a nice surprise to get your day off to a good start. Just ask Rose Seavey, a veteran sterile processing professional and active AAMI standards committee member.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/051413_Seavey_Honored_with_IAHCSMM_Award.htmlMon, 20 May 2013 12:57:56 -0400 San Diego was the site of the May 5-8 IAHCSMM Conference & Expo, which offered attendees numerous educational sessions and networking events.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/051413_IAHCSMM_Photos.htmlMon, 20 May 2013 12:55:40 -0400 Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) Week is almost upon us. To mark the occasion, AAMI and its Technology Management Council (TMC) have scheduled an event each day during the special week. The events will honor the important work of HTM professionals—including biomedical equipment technicians, clinical engineers, imaging specialists, and lab equipment specialists.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/051413_Press_May_15_Deadline_HTM_Contest.htmlTue, 14 May 2013 14:23:49 -0400 AAMI will hold a free online demonstration of its benchmarking program for sterile processing departments on Monday, June 22, at 2:00 p.m. EST. The web event is open to all interested parties. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/051413_Press_Free_Sterilization_Benchmarking_Demo.htmlTue, 14 May 2013 13:11:15 -0400 I'm here to challenge the preconception held by some that standards and the people who write them are boring and dry. I'm here to tell you that standards people are fun! This year at the AAMI Standards Reception, which will be held on June 2 in Long Beach, CA, we will present our inaugural Fun AAMI Standards Awards. One of the awards will go to the committee member with the most interesting hobby. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/051413_Standards_Week.htmlTue, 14 May 2013 12:55:13 -0400 The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) and the Healthcare Technology Foundation (HTF) are soliciting proposals to develop content for a training program on risk management of integrated systemshttp://www.aami.org/news/2013/051313_Press_RFP_Training_Risk_Management_IS.htmlMon, 13 May 2013 16:24:04 -0400 Each day during Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) Week (to be held May 19-25), AAMI and its Technology Management Council (TMC) will hold a special event in honor of the important work of HTM professionals---including biomedical equipment technicians, clinical engineers, imaging specialists, lab equipment specialists, and others. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/050813_HTM_Week_Special_Events.htmlWed, 08 May 2013 12:31:06 -0400 The AAMI Foundation's Healthcare Technology Safety Institute (HTSI) has been selected to receive the GE Healthcare-AACN Pioneering Spirit Award for its efforts to advance high acuity and critical care nursing regionally and nationally.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/050813_Press_HTSI_Wins_Award_Pioneering_Spirit.htmlWed, 08 May 2013 11:07:38 -0400 BI&T (Biomedical Instrumentation & Technology), Horizons, and AAMI News were big winners in a national competition of healthcare publications.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/050713_Press_AAMI_Publications_Snap_Up_Awards.htmlTue, 07 May 2013 16:56:39 -0400 As part of its broader plan to modernize adverse event reporting, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is touting use of the MedWatcher mobile app for healthcare providers, caregivers, and patients to report problems with medical devices using a smartphone or tablet.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/050113_FDA_Reporting_Role_Mobile_Apps.htmlWed, 01 May 2013 14:11:56 -0400 Nineteen national and local healthcare organizations are joining the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) in celebrating Healthcare Technology Management Week 2013. This annual celebration, which will be held May 19 - 25, 2013, is designed to raise awareness and show appreciation for the critical work of healthcare technology management professionals, including biomedical equipment technicians, clinical engineers, imaging specialists, laboratory equipment specialists, and others who protect patient safety and reduce healthcare costs.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/050113_Press_Nineteen_Organizations_Support_HTM_Week.htmlWed, 01 May 2013 12:02:16 -0400 When discussing interoperability—definitions and adherence to already accepted standards are critical. In order to be truly interoperable, we must be consistent with standards—including practical, theoretical, and otherwisehttp://www.aami.org/news/2013/043013_IHE_PCD_Breaking_Down_Complexity.htmlTue, 30 Apr 2013 20:30:17 -0400 A year from now, hospitals and other healthcare facilities will likely start to see newly designed small-bore connectors on the market, the end result of an ambitious and sweeping effort to eliminate a significant patient safety hazard--misconnections.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/042513_Small-Bore_Connectors_Standard_Moves_Forward.htmlThu, 25 Apr 2013 16:03:03 -0400 A subgroup of AAMI's Wireless Task Force is asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to create a 'safe haven' for interference-sensitive applications in the 5 GHz industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band. The group hopes the move will provide institutions offering life-critical applications with exclusive access to a limited number of channels in the expanded band.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/042413_Group_Eyes_Safe_Haven_for_Healthcare_Facilities.htmlWed, 24 Apr 2013 15:30:21 -0400 Marathon Monday, as it is commonly called in Boston, had a normal feel to it. We had a full staff available in Clinical Engineering. Around 2:50 p.m., we received a page through the disaster response system that an explosion occurred at the finish line of the marathon. A second explosion occurred just a few seconds later, and the hospital immediately declared an emergency and opened up the command center.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/042413_Clinical_Engineering_Department_Responds_to_Boston_Bombings.htmlWed, 24 Apr 2013 09:26:23 -0400 In honor of Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) Week (May 19 - 25, 2013), AAMI will host a free webinar on wireless security and the medical grade wireless network on Tuesday, May 21, from 12:00 - 1:30 pm Eastern.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/042413_Free_Webinar_Wireless_Issues_Offered.htmlWed, 24 Apr 2013 09:23:42 -0400 Hospitals and other healthcare facilities are starting to embrace and adopt systems engineering principles in their use of healthcare technology, a development examined in detail in the latest issue of AAMI's peer-reviewed journal, BI&T (Biomedical Instrumentation & Technology).http://www.aami.org/news/2013/042313_Press_AAMI_Journal_Examines_Systems_Thinking.htmlTue, 23 Apr 2013 13:18:09 -0400 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have named the members of a new workgroup that will develop recommendations for the development and adoption of a nationwide health information infrastructure. The group is scheduled to hold its first meeting April 29. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/042213_Health_IT_Workgroup_HHS_FCC.htmlMon, 22 Apr 2013 14:31:07 -0400 The leadership of the certification programs for biomedical equipment technicians (CBET), radiology equipment specialists (CRES), and laboratory equipment specialists (CLES) is looking for a senior healthcare technology management professional from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to serve on the United States Certification Commission (USCC). http://www.aami.org/news/2013/041813_Certification_Commission_Seeks_OEM_Representative.htmlThu, 18 Apr 2013 13:25:41 -0400 As the population ages and healthcare facilities look to cut costs, medical technology is moving out of the hospital and into the home. In fact, data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that 7 million people in the United States receive home healthcare each year.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/041813_Press_AAMI_Horizons_Home_Healthcare.htmlThu, 18 Apr 2013 11:50:51 -0400 Adopting a Lean approach to improving systems engineering (SE) visibility in a large operational system and influencing colleagues and healthcare decision makers about SE are just two hot topics to be discussed at the 2013 INCOSE International Symposium scheduled for June 24-27 in Philadelphia. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/041713_Systems_Engineering_Symposium_Healthcare_Challenges.htmlWed, 17 Apr 2013 15:05:38 -0400 Several national and local healthcare organizations have already joined the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) in support of Healthcare Technology Management Week 2013. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/041613_Press_Organizations_Pledge_Support_HTM_Week.htmlTue, 16 Apr 2013 11:42:19 -0400 An attractive new poster promoting Healthcare Technology Management Week 2013 (May 19 - 25)---a special week honoring clinical engineers, biomedical equipment technicians, and other professionals involved in the management of healthcare technology---will soon be available for distribution. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/041013_HTM_Week_Posters_Available.htmlWed, 10 Apr 2013 13:58:30 -0400 Brian Poplin, a biomedical equipment technician (BMET) who worked his way up to become president of ARAMARK Healthcare Technologies, has left the company to join Medical Staffing Network (MSN) as president and chief operating officer. Poplin will start his new position April 19, relocating to Boca Raton, FL. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/041013_ARAMARK_Poplin_Resigns_Joins_MSN.htmlWed, 10 Apr 2013 12:50:28 -0400 Medical device alarm signals are vital for ensuring patient safety. However, the constant noise from these signals has led to alarm fatigue among healthcare providers, jeopardizing the health of patients. To combat this fatigue, The Joint Commission (TJC) has issued a Sentinel Event Alert with such recommendations as preparing an inventory of alarm-equipped medical devices and tailoring alarm settings and limits for individual patients.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/040813_TJC_Suggests_Steps_to_Combat_Alarm_Fatigue.htmlMon, 08 Apr 2013 15:25:39 -0400 What can we expect in the future for the healthcare technology management (HTM) profession? That was the question AAMI President Mary Logan tackled in her speech before attendees of the Spring MD Expo 2013 in Reston, VA, outside Washington, D.C.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/040413_Logan_Teamwork_Customer_Service_Crucial_for_HTM_Professionals.htmlThu, 04 Apr 2013 09:13:55 -0400 What can the nuclear power and healthcare industries learn from one another? That question is the focus of a new AAMI monograph, "Risk and Reliability in Healthcare and Nuclear Power: Learning from Each Other," the result of a two-day workshop held in San Diego last July to promote shared learning and promote gains in risk management and reliability.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/040213_Press_AAMI_Publication_Highlights_Difference_Similarities_in_Healthcare_Nuclear_Industries.htmlTue, 02 Apr 2013 13:45:13 -0400 Achieving truly functional medical device interoperability could result in more than $30 billion a year in healthcare savings and significantly promote patient safety, according to a new report by a medical research organization.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/032913_Report_Projects_Billions_in_Interoperability_Savings.htmlFri, 29 Mar 2013 13:03:45 -0400 AAMI is holding its third annual contest to recognize the facility that best celebrates Healthcare Technology Management Week. In reviewing submissions, we are looking especially for creativity, and for engaging other facility staff and departments in your celebration. This year's Healthcare Technology Management Week celebration will be held May 19 - 25.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/032713_Third_Annual_HTM_Week_Contest.htmlThu, 28 Mar 2013 16:00:39 -0400 In a largely symbolic gesture, the U.S. Senate has voted 79 to 20 in favor of an amendment to the Fiscal 2014 Senate Budget Resolution expressing support for the repeal of the medical device tax. Thirty-three Democrats joined all 46 Senate Republicans to support the amendment that repeals the tax, part of President Barack Obama's healthcare law. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/032613_Senate_Takes_Aim_at_Device_Tax.htmlTue, 26 Mar 2013 09:48:39 -0400 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is looking to toughen rules governing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) after receiving an estimated 45,000 adverse event reports related to the devices over a seven-year period.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/032513_FDA_Proposes_Stricter_AED_Oversight.htmlMon, 25 Mar 2013 11:30:26 -0400 China is "sparing no expense" in promoting its companies in the international arena, particularly in biotechnology and medical equipment, according to a speaker at the 23rd AAMI/FDA International Conference on Medical Device Standards and Regulation. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/032113_China_Moving_Full_Steam_Ahead_on_Standards.htmlThu, 21 Mar 2013 10:45:54 -0400 Mobile health technology is taking center stage this week with three House Energy and Commerce subcommittees holding hearings on how wireless innovation should be regulated and how it benefits patient safety.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/032013_House_Panel_Kicks_Off_Hearings_on_Mobile_Health.htmlWed, 20 Mar 2013 10:36:38 -0400 An article drawing attention to the efforts of AAMI, ECRI Institute, and the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management to improve reprocessing has received a prestigious award from the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA). The ASJA awards presentation will take place April 25 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/031913_Press_Award_Recognizes_Article_Highlighting_Contaminated_Equipment.htmlTue, 19 Mar 2013 10:08:32 -0400 Luer misconnections are an ongoing patient safety concern. Despite widespread publicity, adverse events involving these connectors and locks—which are used in many, and potentially incompatible, applications—continue to plague healthcare facilities. As a result, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has asked that state surveyors ensure facilities are taking action to prevent the recurrence of adverse events involving Luer misconnections.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/031813_CMS_Warns_of_Luer_Misconnection_Dangers.htmlMon, 18 Mar 2013 09:27:14 -0400 The shortage of healthcare information technology (IT) professionals appears to be bigger than previously thought—something that could lead to intense competition among providers, health insurers, drug and device makers, and healthcare IT companies for top talent, according to a new report from PwC's Health Research Institute. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/031313_Healthcare_Execs_Scramble_to_Fill_IT_Talent_Void.htmlWed, 13 Mar 2013 14:43:05 -0400 The 23rd AAMI/FDA International Conference on Medical Device Standards & Regulation kicks off in one week with a two-day agenda that promises to instruct attendees about how they can comply with recent changes to industry standards. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/031213_AAMI_FDA_International_Standards_Conference_Convenes_Next_Week.htmlTue, 12 Mar 2013 15:29:36 -0400 Interoperability took center stage Monday at the annual HIMSS Conference in New Orleans with a major announcement from five healthcare information technology (IT) companies.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/030513_Health_IT_Rivals_Team_Up.htmlTue, 05 Mar 2013 16:42:34 -0500 In what it calls an effort to improve medical device review efficiency, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking stakeholder feedback on draft guidance covering communication during the submission evaluation process. The draft, published in the March 5 Federal Register, updates the FDA's approach to interactive review, which the agency says it wants to use more frequently to speed device evaluations. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/030513_FDA_Speeds_Up_Device_Evaluations.htmlTue, 05 Mar 2013 16:41:06 -0500 The U.S. BMET Board of Examiners is looking for new members. Board members have the opportunity to participate in unique assignments that shape the future of the certification program to ensure relevancy with the career field of healthcare technology management (HTM).http://www.aami.org/news/2013/030513_Certification_Volunteers_Sought.htmlTue, 05 Mar 2013 12:33:26 -0500 Medical device alarms are vital for ensuring proper patient care and alerting healthcare providers of life-threatening conditions. However, if improperly managed, they also can compromise patient safety. Recognizing this threat, The Joint Commission (TJC) sought stakeholder feedback earlier this year on a proposed National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) on alarm management for critical access hospitals and hospital accreditation programs. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/030513_HTSI_Submits_Alarm_Safety_Comments.htmlTue, 05 Mar 2013 12:10:56 -0500 The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) and the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM) are teaming up to enhance and promote Benchmarking Solutions—Sterile Processing, a web-based platform that helps sterile processing departments compare their budgets, personnel, practices, and policies with those at other facilities. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/030513_PressAAMI_IAHCSMM_Partner_Sterilization_Benchmarking.htmlTue, 05 Mar 2013 10:35:06 -0500 Les Atles, a well-known figure in the healthcare technology management (HTM) community for more than 30 years, passed away Feb. 20 after complications from a long illness. He was 59. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/022713_HTM_Field_Loses_Pioneer.htmlWed, 27 Feb 2013 14:43:29 -0500 Patient Safety Awareness Week begins Sunday, and it's a campaign that has the support of AAMI, which has a mission of advancing the safe and effective use of medical technology. The week, which runs March 3-9, is an initiative of the National Patient Safety Foundation. The foundation describes the week as a chance to "recognize advancement that have been made in the patient safety arena, while acknowledging the challenges that remain---and committing to work on them, every day."http://www.aami.org/news/2013/022613_National_Patient_Safety_Week.htmlTue, 26 Feb 2013 15:03:45 -0500 Replacing manual blood pressure cuffs with automatic ones; changing the default settings on patient alarms; and updating antiquated infusion pumps following the merger of two hospitals—these were just three of the challenges tackled by healthcare professionals featured in a new BI&T (Biomedical Instrumentation & Technology) article titled "The Problem Solvers."http://www.aami.org/news/2013/022613_Press_AAMI_Journal_Profiles_Problem_Solvers.htmlTue, 26 Feb 2013 12:31:04 -0500 Over the past year, the United States has seen its share of extreme weather, from blizzards to superstorm Sandy. And, as seen, these extreme weather events can cause logistical nightmares. But what kind of impact can they have on medical devices?http://www.aami.org/news/2013/022613_FDA_Extreme_Weather_and_Medical_Devices.htmlTue, 26 Feb 2013 09:20:59 -0500 Wayne, PA-based Crothall Healthcare has bought privately held CREST Services, an independent service organization (ISO) in Coppell, TX, specializing in medical equipment maintenance. The acquisition, which was finalized Dec. 20, 2012, increases Crothall's reach, as CREST has a large customer base in Texas and the Southwesthttp://www.aami.org/news/2013/022513_Crothall_Buys_CREST_Services.htmlMon, 25 Feb 2013 10:55:21 -0500 To speed development of products to treat unmet medical needs in children, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a supplemental proposed rule that would require manufacturers to submit information on pediatric patients who suffer from the disease or condition that the devices are intended to treat, diagnose, or cure. The agency identifies the pediatric population as patients 21 years of age or younger.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/022113_FDA_Pediatric_Data_Requirement.htmlThu, 21 Feb 2013 16:26:53 -0500 As the population ages and more people begin managing their conditions at home, wireless patient monitoring (WPM) technology has attracted the interest of major device makers, startups, and venture capitalists alike. However, despite WPM's ability to promote patient safety, a lack of interoperability standards could delay the advancement of this technology, according to an analysis by Mountain View, CA-based Frost & Sullivan. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/022013_Lack_Interoperability_Standards_Hinders_Growth_Wireless_Tech.htmlWed, 20 Feb 2013 13:47:11 -0500 In an effort to reduce the frequency of these adverse events, the AAMI Foundation's Healthcare Technology Safety Institute (HTSI) has joined forces with several partners to create the Coalition of Organizations for Reporting Adverse Events (CORE). The coalition's mission will be to inform stakeholders about the patterns and trends of adverse events.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/021913_Press_AAMI_Foundation_HTSI_Launches_Coalition_Adverse_Event.htmlTue, 19 Feb 2013 13:07:41 -0500 Despite being frustrated in their efforts last year, some members of both the House and Senate have renewed their push to repeal the unpopular 2.3% excise tax on medical devices with two new pieces of legislation.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/021313_Lawmakers_Renew_Battle_Against_Device_Tax.htmlWed, 13 Feb 2013 13:19:18 -0500 In an ongoing effort to find the next generation of healthcare technology management professionals, the AAMI Foundation is accepting applications from students interested in the Michael J. Miller Scholarship Program. Applications must be submitted by March 15.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/021313_AAMI_Scholarship_Deadline_Nears.htmlWed, 13 Feb 2013 12:53:45 -0500 The first virtual town hall meeting of 2013 presented by the CE-IT Community is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 25, at 12:00 Noon Eastern. You can register here for the complimentary 90-minute session, which will explore the role of middleware in technology integration.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/021313_CEIT_Virtual_Town_Hall_Middleware.htmlWed, 13 Feb 2013 12:32:57 -0500 Are you a biomedical equipment technician looking to become certified? The application deadline for the spring certification exams is right around the corner---March 23.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/021213_Press_Deadline_Spring_Certification_Exams_Approaching.htmlTue, 12 Feb 2013 15:58:19 -0500 Although the increased use of health information technology (IT) has a number of benefits, a recently released ECRI Institute Patient Safety Organization (PSO) analysis says inaccurate entry of patient information and inad­equate data transfer from one system to another have led to mistakes that could compromise safety. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/020813_ECRI_Top_Health_IT_Concerns.htmlFri, 08 Feb 2013 11:19:53 -0500 Alarms are vital elements for ensuring proper patient care, alerting healthcare providers of life-threatening conditions. However, if improperly managed, they can also compromise safety. To address this pressing safety issue, The Joint Commission (TJC) is seeking comments on a proposed National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) on the management of alarms.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/020613_TJC_Seeks_Input_Alarms.htmlWed, 06 Feb 2013 13:03:54 -0500 Deadlines are rapidly approaching to nominate either yourself or a colleague for a number of AAMI volunteer opportunities. AAMI has a wide array of opportunities available—from serving on various committees and working groups to joining an editorial board.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/020613_AAMI_Seeks_Volunteers.htmlWed, 06 Feb 2013 11:36:11 -0500 As healthcare facilities look to save money, and patients rely increasingly on mobile devices to monitor their conditions, technology is moving out of hospitals and into homes and other nonclinical settings---a trend known as distributed care. But while patients and hospitals see the benefits of this trend in terms of convenience and reduced costs, there are also risks and challenges to consider as more technology moves into the hands of nonmedical professionals.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/020513_Press_AAMI_FDA_Summit_Healthcare_Technology_Nonclinical_Settings.htmlTue, 05 Feb 2013 14:04:14 -0500 This is a sample item in a feed, created by Jitbit RSS Feed Creator. NOTE: this item description should be edited.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/020413_FCC_Streamlines_Rules.htmlMon, 04 Feb 2013 15:05:30 -0500 The American Hospital Association (AHA) and the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) are seeking applicants for the 2013-2014 AHA-NPSF Comprehensive Patient Safety Leadership Fellowship. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/013013_AHA_NPSF_Seek_Healthcare_Leaders_Safety_Fellowship.htmlWed, 30 Jan 2013 09:42:23 -0500 Are you a sterile processing professional looking to renovate your facility? A new AAMI manual can help you prepare for your upcoming construction and renovation project, as well as plan for equipment purchases, testing, and implementation.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/012913_Press_AAMI_Manual_Guides_Sterile_Processing_Renovations.htmlTue, 29 Jan 2013 12:13:38 -0500 In an effort to ensure patient safety, a coalition that counts AAMI, ECRI Institute, and the American Society of Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) among its members is advising the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to keep unlicensed devices off TV Channel 37, the band currently allocated for wireless medical telemetry service (WMTS) and radio astronomy use. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/012813_AAMI_Joins_WMTS_Coalition_on_Incentive_Auction.htmlMon, 28 Jan 2013 11:45:57 -0500 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a long-awaited final rule concerning current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) requirements for combination products.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/012313_FDA_Publishes_Final_Rule_Combination_Products.htmlWed, 23 Jan 2013 13:08:24 -0500 If you want to make a difference in the healthcare technology management (HTM) field, here's a prime opportunity. Nominations are being accepted for openings on AAMI's Technology Management Council (TMC), a 24-member AAMI committee that represents the interests of biomedical equipment technicians, clinical engineers, and other HTM professionals.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/012313_Volunteers_HTM_Profession.htmlWed, 23 Jan 2013 10:19:58 -0500 Not performing routine maintenance and underestimating the potential risk for patient harm are just two of the mistakes healthcare providers make when moving to wireless technology. To help them avoid these and other mistakes, a new AAMI task force is preparing for a March meeting in Herndon, VA, at which members will flesh out recommendations made at 2012 workshop on wireless challenges in healthcare. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/012213_Press_Wireless_Task_Force.htmlTue, 22 Jan 2013 15:30:12 -0500 Smaller healthcare providers face a number of challenges in implementing secure exchanges for electronic health information--from lack of expertise to cost considerations. But they are now getting help from a new demonstration project by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that aims to create a secure data exchange platform. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/011713_NIST_Seeks_Participants_Electronic_Health.htmlThu, 17 Jan 2013 17:12:26 -0500 Seeking to reduce the annual number of preventable patient deaths, the chief executive officers (CEOs) of nine device makers have pledged to make their devices interoperable, thereby easing access to health data for doctors and hospitals.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/011713_Press_HTSI_Paper_Addresses_Alarms.htmlThu, 17 Jan 2013 14:00:05 -0500 Seeking to reduce the annual number of preventable patient deaths, the chief executive officers (CEOs) of nine device makers have pledged to make their devices interoperable, thereby easing access to health data for doctors and hospitals.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/011613_Medical_Device_Companies_Interoperability_Pledge.htmlWed, 16 Jan 2013 13:50:30 -0500 Use of health information technology (IT) has long been touted as a way to save money and improve patient care. Despite the huge investment in health IT, the lack of truly interoperable, easy-to-use systems has hindered the potential for savings—estimated at roughly $81 billion annually—promised by its widespread adoption, conclude two RAND Corporation researchers.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/011613_Health_IT_Slow_Progress.htmlTue, 15 Jan 2013 16:32:38 -0500 AAMI's second annual survey of top 10 medical devices challenges has received considerable attention from healthcare industry news outlets around the country in recent weeks, and is also the subject of a new podcast conducted by Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry (MD&DI).http://www.aami.org/news/2013/011113_AAMI_Top_Ten_Medical_Device_Challenges.htmlFri, 11 Jan 2013 17:06:29 -0500 Attendees of the joint AAMI/U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) International Conference on Medical Device Standards & Regulation can expect an informative two-day event that will gather together industry experts and agency leaders. http://www.aami.org/news/2013/011113_AAMI_FDA_Standards_Conference.htmlFri, 11 Jan 2013 10:04:01 -0500 A nonprofit hospice in Idaho will pay $50,000 to the Department of Health and Human Services to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). http://www.aami.org/news/2013/010913_Hospice_Settles_HIPAA_Case.htmlWed, 09 Jan 2013 14:24:37 -0500 Adopting systems engineering principles to advance patient safety, improving regulatory clarity, and having shared goals and standards are just three of the priorities named in a new AAMI publication on how to best achieve interoperability in healthcare technology.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/010813_Press_Interoperability_Summit_Report_Released.htmlTue, 08 Jan 2013 14:36:37 -0500 The 2.3 percent medical device excise tax is now a reality. The 'fiscal cliff' legislation passed by Congress in an extraordinary New Year's Day session did not include a repeal of the measure, which had been fiercely opposed by the medical device industry. The tax, which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2013, is on the sale of certain medical devices by the manufacturer, producer, or importer of the device, and it is intended to help pay for the Affordable Care Act. Manufacturers say the tax will force them to cut jobs.http://www.aami.org/news/2013/010213_Medical_Device_Excise_Tax.htmlMon, 07 Jan 2013 12:28:33 -0500