Forwarded for Adrian Richards.
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Hi
Following manufacturers recommendations without utilising the benefit of our
own experience and judgement may not ultimately be the best plan from some
perspectives. It is general knowledge that manufacturers over-specify
testing is some cases for non-engineering reasons. This is reducing in some
cases and there is pressure building from groups like the ECRIInstitute for
a more scientific rigour to be applied to these recommendations. Ourselves
applying principles as outlined by Bruce is where we can add value and make
sure that resources are expended sensibly and in the most risk-reducing
manner.
One approach that I am using in an attempt to apply pressure to vendors to
nominate realistic testing regimes is to more clearly include the use of
manufacturer guidelines in determining cost of ownership during purchase
determinations. We are in the middle of such a process at the moment where
the devices in question one would normally expect to test annually at best,
we have one manufacturer recommending testing quarterly. They are being
asked to fully cost the provision of service to this level (the reps make
comments about it being overkill) and this will be factored in to the whole
of life cost determinations. Once sales start to suffer due to over
specification of testing requirements the message may become a little
clearer to the companies. In this case if the product design is such that it
actually does need testing quarterly then we will not want to touch it
anyway.
Adrian
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From: Owen Byrnes [mailto:owen_byr...@optusnet.com.au]
Sent: Wednesday, 16 June 2010 23:55
To: bmelist@bme.asn.au
Subject: [bmelist] AS3551 Testing versus Manufacturer Service
Recommendations
At a meeting last year, of the National Panel for Clinical Engineering,
there was a lively debate about AS3551 Testing versus Manufacturer Service
Recommendations.
It appears that our litigious compensation system has made following
Manufacturer Service Recommendations practically mandatory.
Who thinks we should scrap AS3551 testing and just follow Manufacturer
Service Recommendations?
Will we ever have standardised procedures for AS3551 testing throughout
Australia? For example, when do we need to perform quantitative flow
testing of wall outlet flow meters that clinical users can assess are
functional?
Please reply to bmelist@bme.asn.au so that we can have an open debate about
this issue.
Regards,
Owen.
Owen Byrnes
Lismore NSW Australia
Mob: 0411 353 889
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