IT integration issues top challenge for healthcare tech managers
Healthcare technology management (HTM) professionals working in hospitals said their top challenge is the management of medical devices and systems on IT networks, according to a survey commissioned by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI).
The survey results point to a changing world for HTM professionals—one in which routine duties, such as preventive maintenance checks, are part of a workday that increasingly contains more sweeping responsibilities such as helping to implement a hospital-wide medical device integration plan.
According to the survey results, the top 10 medical devices challenges are:
- Managing devices and systems on the IT network (72 percent)
- Integrating device data into EHRs (65 percent)
- Broken connectors (50 percent)
- Battery management (50 percent)
- Alarm management (49 percent)
- Maintenance of infusion pump systems (48 percent)
- Cybersecurity of medical devices and systems (47 percent)
- Setting preventive maintenance strategies (44 percent)
- Medical device incident reporting and investigations (42 percent)
- Medical devices brought in by patients (42 percent)
“This annual survey commissioned by AAMI is incredibly helpful in validating and prioritizing the major challenges facing the HTM field,” said Steve Campbell, AAMI’s chief marketing and communications officer. “The AAMI leadership and staff are reviewing these results to look for ways in which AAMI could help make a meaningful difference in solving a challenge or problem.”
AAMI’s list of Top 10 Medical Device Challenges stems from a research survey commissioned by AAMI in April and conducted by Westat—a research and statistical survey firm. The survey was sent via email to HTM professionals in 1,900 different U.S. hospitals, and 188 HTMs responded. The respondents were asked to rank how significant 18 specific device-related challenges are to their facility. Those challenges were identified by a task force of AAMI leaders and staff.