A good biomed never blames his tools, but a good biomed also needs to have the correct tools to be able to perform the many duties and functions of the job. TechNation recently quizzed several test equipment insiders to find out the latest about the “tools” available to healthcare technology management (HTM) professionals.
Participants in this roundtable article on test equipment are Pronk Technologies Vice President of Sales and Marketing Greg Alkire, Radcal President and CEO Curt Harkless, RTI Group Vice President of Sales North America Steve Holmes, Datrend Systems Inc. Director of Business Development Owen Liu and BC Group International National Sales and Marketing Manager Tim Welby.
Q: What is one piece of test equipment every HTM professional needs and why?
Alkire: In our decades of experience serving the HTM community, we have found that virtually every medical device in a hospital requires electrical safety testing at some frequency. This can range from a couple of different safety checks up to a dozen or more at a time, which is time-consuming. A small, portable electrical safety analyzer that not only easily conducts short tests, but also quickly automates longer sequences of tests that start with a simple press is a tool every HTM professional should have.
Harkless: In X-ray imaging, basic measurements are aimed at assessing the beam spectral characteristics for appropriateness to the applications and machine settings under study. As such, the basic measurements include dose, dose rate, kV and HVL. In this field, integrated sensors are now available that provide these metrics in a single exposure and for a range of diagnostic systems including radiography, mammography, fluoroscopy and dental. Other basic equipment might include ion chambers tailored for basic measurements such as CT or mammography.
Holmes: RTI recognized in the 1990s that X-ray quality assurance test tools also required software advancements that streamline performance and productivity. Since that time, RTI has released multiple iterations of its original software named Ortigo. In January 2021, we released our most advanced software solution to date, Ocean Next. HTM professionals recognize the need for improved traceability, compliance and workflow that Ocean Next delivers.
Liu: Quite often, test equipment used by HTM professionals is based on the assets installed within their organization and what portion of those assets the team needs to manage. Therefore, no matter what test equipment is being used, it is a tool to improve user efficiency and accuracy. I believe having test equipment with the ability to run user programmable auto-sequences is at the top of the list so that everyone on the team can consistently carry out the same set of automated tests day in and day out. The one test device that is most universally required by standards and manufacturers safety and performance test is the electrical safety tester, which can be well suited to provide this automation capability.
Welby: The safety analyzer this is a very versatile piece of equipment for testing electrical leakage and is used on a wide variety of medical devices throughout the hospital or medical facility.
Q: How does new technology continue to impact the test equipment industry?
Alkire: The technologies available to the HTM community have evolved tremendously over recent years. Twenty years ago, test equipment was mainly designed for laboratory-type test environments – large, expensive and overly complex. We at Pronk recognized the industry was ready for change, and the path forward was test equipment designed exclusively for the HTM community. We have been laser-focused on designing products that are portable, durable, incredibly intuitive and that fit in the palm of your hand, while being affordable enough for every engineer in a shop to acquire. We continue to expand upon this philosophy by providing even more flexibility, features and multi-purpose functionality.
Harkless: In recent years, there are two significant trends in diagnostic imaging that are shaping the evolution of quality measurement on these systems. Simultaneously, systems are becoming more complex (i.e. combination modes for mammography) and certain subsystems are becoming increasingly stable and reliable (i.e. kV generation). These changes make some measurements more routine and others more important, Dose Area Product (DAP) for instance. As a result, HTM professionals should consider planning for expanded DAP requirements and choose instruments that support these measurements.
Holmes: RTI has been a leader in R&D for 40 years, introducing new solutions to improve accuracy and efficiencies within X-ray QA. In spite of COVID, RTI released a new scatter and leakage probe and will soon release Cloud for Ocean Next software. As a result, RTI’s solutions fully integrate with our software, meeting the increased demands for reporting and automation.
Liu: Technology should always improve the user experience and make their job easier. When we started shipping our tablet-based test equipment back in 2013, there was a slow adoption of using tablets as a primary user interface. Over the past eight years, however, we have seen a dramatic increase in adoption and certainly more and more tablets being used at all levels of the health care system. Until virtual-reality glasses become de facto, tablets are probably the best way to go.
Welby: As technology continues to evolve, the ability to deliver more accurate results in a timely manner along with increasing use of Bluetooth, allows the HTM professional to be effective in increasing the delivery of patient care.
Q: What are the most important things to look for in a test equipment manufacturer?
Alkire: There are important factors that should always be in the forefront when deciding on a test equipment manufacturer. Products should have durability, reliability, ease of use and a warranty that shows the manufacturer is serious about standing behind its designs. Above and beyond that, ensure the manufacturer doesn’t have a history of taking an “end of life” approach to force you to throw out 10-year-old devices and buy new designs that are more expensive. Ideally, the 10- or 15-year-old product you trust can be upgraded to integrate the latest technological advancements.
Harkless: Since your test equipment represents a major investment that is critical to your business for many years to come, one should look for a partner who is proven, stable, reliable and established. Consider the life cycle of the relationship including service, repair and calibration that are critical to operating and maintaining test equipment over the long run. As diagnostic imaging continues to grow and evolve, the requirements of your test equipment may grow and will likely evolve as well. One should select test equipment from a line that is modular, interchangeable, and extensible to meet changing needs.
Holmes: There’s something to be said for knowledge and experience and after 40 years of development and the delivery of complete QA solutions, RTI has built a trusted name and brand in the global market. RTI also takes pride in our post-sale support whether it’s training via the RTI Academy or our standard two-year warranty and calibration cycle and fast turnaround times from our New Jersey office.
Liu: No two businesses are alike, understanding the user’s needs and being able to make changes quickly is very important in our ever-changing world. If you feel a new feature could improve your efficiency, could the manufacturer make those improvements without having the test equipment shipped out to a service center? Manufacturers who can offer remote upgrades will reduce overall downtime for their customers.
Welby: The cost of ownership versus acquisition cost. The availability of upgrade pathways versus having to purchase new equipment. The ability to not overspend by purchasing features not necessary (one size does not fit all).
Q: Can you tell readers about one product or update your company offers HTM professionals?
Alkire: We introduced our Mobilize wireless solution and it has been a very exciting product launch. Mobilize provides wireless communication capabilities to our safety analyzer, patient simulators SimCube and OxSim Flex, and our FlowTrax IV Pump Analyzer. Mobilize wirelessly connects Pronk products to a user’s smart device to provide complete and single-point control of several test devices, dramatically reducing overall test time. The platform on which we have designed this solution enables us to continually expand its features and capabilities. Since its introduction, we have added over 25 customer-driven ideas/features onto the platform. We continue to tailor the Mobilize solution to grow with the evolving needs of the HTM professionals to improve how service and PMs are performed including automating the documentation process all the way up to integration with a CMMS/database.
Harkless: Radcal recently revamped its flagship product line to include a stand-alone instrument, the AccuGold Touch Series. Sporting the largest touchscreen in the industry, these systems support all Accu-Gold Series sensors including a dual radiography/mammography multi-sensor and the largest selection of ion chambers in the industry. Recent updates to the sensor family are two DAP solutions, the 10×60 DAP and the DAPCheck Plus. The 10×60 DAP is aimed at small beam systems such as CBCT while the DAPCheck Plus is aimed at satisfying the new JHACO fluoroscopy requirement.
Holmes: Ocean Next software is scalable, depending on your departmental requirements. Offering multiple license levels, Ocean Next Professional is the most advanced level, providing trend analysis and full traceability of your measurements. As a result, you can build a holistic solution for your X-ray QA, storing measurements in a searchable database, available for quick and intuitive retrieval, and structured based on your needs. Of course, free software updates can be downloaded from RTI’s website and support is a phone call or email away.
Liu: In 2021, Datrend released the vPad-IV, our latest infusion pump analyzer. Based on the success of past product designs, we have made vPad-IV completely modular where it can be configured between 1 to 6 independent channels for testing. Whether it is because of budget or space limitations, the modular design allows users to change their configuration to meet their needs within minutes. Of course, being a vPad product it adds a 10-inch tablet to allow for intuitive and easy-to-use automation features.
Welby: As technology evolves, the implementation of Bluetooth is growing steadily. BC Group has been increasing the Bluetooth capabilities as we move forward with new products.
Q: What else do you think TechNation readers need to know about test equipment going into 2022?
Alkire: We at Pronk continue to focus on solutions that will improve the ability for HTM engineers to have test equipment designed to make their jobs easier, including quick access to the proper test procedures integrated into a singular user interface (on a smart device) that can directly control all their test devices. Having the ability to document all their activities automatically as they work – a completely paperless method – will provide great dividends and help keep the focus on what is most important, namely, servicing and maintaining medical devices to provide the best outcomes for patients.
Harkless: Readers may want to consider alternatives to ownership of their QA instruments going into 2022. As in the mobile phone industry, costs for service and calibration of your instrument throughout its lifetime can easily exceed the purchase price of the equipment. For this reason, joining a long-term service warranty program provides a means to establish predictable overall costs through the life of the instrument and avoid large upfront expenditures.
Holmes: The tools you have today may not be adequate or designed with future upgrade paths in mind. The common link in RTI’s solutions continues to be the software. As we’ve learned throughout COVID, the increase of working remote or in isolated environments put a stamp on the need for automation, ease of use, access from anywhere (home laptop/PC for example) and a reliable service/support network.
Liu: Medical equipment installed in hospitals is quite often different from each other, even when they are the same make and model as some units could have more optional modules installed. I believe we will continue to see more test equipment manufacturers offer customizable automation as a standard feature in the future so that tests carried out can match exactly the testing standard used as well as matching the functional modules installed in those assets.
Welby: Obviously there are several choices when choosing new equipment. Looking at the life cycle of equipment and the years of interactions; having confidence in the company, its reputation, new product development and user friendliness are important factors to consider.