Future Forum II Tackles Healthcare Technology Management Challenges

Determined to set a course for the future, two dozen clinical engineers, biomedical equipment technicians, educators, and other experts are meeting at AAMI headquarters in Arlington, VA, to take on critical issues facing the healthcare technology management (HTM) field.

Facilitated by AAMI, the three-day “Future Forum II” kicked off Monday, Sept. 10 and focuses on top challenges, such as inconsistent job descriptions and credential requirements, educational needs, the rapid evolution of technology, and the blurring of lines between traditional roles and responsibilities. AAMI also organized and hosted the first Future Forum last year, and that meeting resulted in a vision and the unifying name of HTM for the profession.

It’s part of a larger effort by AAMI to raise awareness about the critical work of HTM professionals in making modern hospitals and other healthcare facilities safe and efficient. The forum and other collaborative initiatives make up a key component of AAMI’s core mission: advancing safety in medical technology.

“I think we have the opportunity to make history here,” said Ray Laxton, chairman of AAMI’s Board of Directors and vice president of strategic partnerships at ARAMARK Healthcare Technologies in Charlotte, NC. “The healthcare landscape is changing. What we are trying to do is shape our future rather than having it happen to us.”

Beyond HTM professionals working in the field, attendees at the forum include representatives from groups such as the ECRI Institute, a nonprofit organization that focuses on improving the safety, quality and cost-effectiveness of patient care.

In breakout sessions and free-flowing debates, the group has discussed the lack of a clear career ladder for the HTM profession (and what to do about that), new responsibilities brought on by the convergence with information technology, and the impact of rapid technological advancements.

Attendees discussed how to best “brand” and elevate the HTM profession, and recruit more biomeds from the younger generation to take the place of retiring baby boomers.

AAMI (www.aami.org) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1967. It is a diverse community of more than 10,000 healthcare technology professionals united by one important mission—supporting the healthcare community in the development, management, and use of safe and effective health technology. AAMI is the primary source of consensus standards, both national and international, for the medical device industry, as well as practical information, support, and guidance for health technology and sterilization professionals.