From the May 2016 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine


Cybersecurity also presents new opportunities in HTM departments, since more equipment has an IT component or a security implication, according to Gieras. “Many of the medical devices are IT based and have means for potential breach from the outside, so it is important for the HTM professionals to be able to assess the technological vulnerabilities as part of the new equipment evaluations,” Gieras said. “This includes application of ongoing patching, and updates and upgrades to ensure the technologies are safe and secure.”

HTM service is not for everyone
When it comes to managing technology there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Some facilities are content depending on external support from OEMs and third-party vendors. According to ECRI’s Maliff, the size of the facility can play a role in that preference, and ease of management and operations could be contributing factors to the preference for outside servicers.
Some hospitals look at maintenance of equipment as a contract service, said Maliff. They could hire someone to fix their machines and buy spare parts without having to worry about providing space for an HTM department and HR-related benefits. For hospitals that establish in-house HTM support, a cost savings in comparison to OEM service is a frequently cited benefit. According to Barkov, that savings is around 15 to 20 percent when compared to other options.

Third-party vendors are another cost-saving alternative to OEM service that many hospitals have successful partnerships with. “A hospital may contract with a thirdparty provider if they are not in compliance with Joint Commission regulations and hospital leadership hires them to ‘correct’ the problem,” said Maliff.

“OEMs and ISOs may claim they are able to ‘cut costs,’ but I question if they are providing the same quality in a timely and cost-effective manner,” said Patrick Harning, division vice president of clinical engineering at Catholic Health Initiatives in Erlanger, Kentucky. “We are looking to save the organization as much time and money as possible and make the right decision for the patients we serve. Third parties and OEMs are looking to make a profit.”

Competition intensifies
With competition increasing between organizations servicing medical equipment, HTMs are using different approaches to stay relevant. They are increasingly attending exams, conferences and meetings to gain a firmer understanding of software-based equipment and project management. “If HTMs are just a group that repairs broken equipment, they will never earn the respect from senior leaders to see that they bring value to a hospital,” said Maliff. “They need to show their expertise so they can become a trusted partner, a sought-after partner when there are problems.”

At Medical Center Boulevard, the staff always receives OEM training whenever they purchase a new machine, and they are constantly sending people to refresher courses. There is a lot of on-the-job training, so if the main technician is unavailable, someone will always be able to service a specific piece of equipment. For HTMs, there is more to servicing equipment than just the bottom line. “It’s the idea of understanding that what [we] do really can have a life or death impact,” said Maliff.

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