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:

1. Integration of systems/devices in multi-vendor environment
2. Developing an IT infrastructure to adequately support medical technology
3. Recommendations and guidance on implementing new technologies, including wireless systems, and
4. 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, 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 more information about the CE-IT Community, visit www.ceitcollaboration.org

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