Listen to the Audio Recording: Click Here

A recent survey found that 66% of healthcare organizations were hit by ransomware last year, up from 34% in 2020, and that healthcare had the highest increase in the volume of cyber-attacks among all sectors, at 69% year over year. This session will focus on the latest news and updates concerning cybersecurity in relation to medical devices and the changes in equipment evaluation processes. The presenters will discuss the safeguards that have been added during implementations and what organizations are doing to prepare for potential attacks.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define how medical device manufacturers will need to ‘think like regulators” when considering their product lifecycles.

2. Explain what the FDA expects from manufacturers in terms of quality management systems to counteract cybersecurity issues.

3. Apply the FDA’s final guidance providing recommendations to the industry regarding cybersecurity device design, labeling, and documentation.

4. Identify the necessary elements of an effective and updated cybersecurity plan

Listen to the Audio Recording: Click Here

Capital equipment sometimes falls down the priority list when budget dollars are allocated. This panel, featuring GPO executives, will explore the changing needs of organizations and the best practices when budgeting including innovative ideas on the procurement of capital equipment.

Learning Objectives:

1. Summarize the phases that contribute to the optimum productivity of capital investments.

2. Identify opportunities to utilize government funding for not-for-profit providers.

3. Assess the viability of using refurbished vs. newly sourced equipment.

4. Describe new opportunities and trends in the acquisition, financing and disposal of capital equipment.

Listen to the Audio Recording: Click Here

This session will provide the audience insight into positioning clinically integrated facilities and how to optimize the effectiveness of their capital equipment. CT Children and UMass executives will share best practices and processes to proactively address equipment challenges.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain the essential importance of equipment interoperability to the optimization of patient care.

2. Summarize proactive predictive maintenance processes to mitigate equipment failures.

3. Analyze the basics of a facility’s reliability-centered maintenance toolbox.

4. Explore the trend of hybrid operating room design and its benefits

Listen to the Audio Recording: Click Here

While value analysis (VA) on the clinical side of healthcare has received much attention and made great strides in the recent past, value analysis related to the capital process has received significantly less attention but presents a substantial opportunity for further rigor in developing cost reduction and process efficiency gains. This discussion will explore the importance of bringing supply chain and value analysis professionals and processes into equipment planning, RFI/RFP, and contracting processes and to share several situations where not applying VA principles had dramatic negative impacts on facility operations.

Learning Objectives:

1. Summarize the importance of a value-based mentality for capital projects as opposed to price-based thinking when working with vendors.

2. Explore ways value analysis principles can be useful in the predesign and renovation phases of projects.

3. Identify how well established VA processes of evaluating long-term value and costs often find things that third-party equipment planners won’t worry about.

4. Analyze the potential benefits of bringing a value analysis mindset to facilities decisions as well as capital.

Listen to the Audio Recording: Click Here

To standardize or not to standardize? There are differing schools of thought as to which way of thinking provides the greater benefit. Those in favor of standardization point to the potential for improved efficiency and patient safety as well as reduced waste. Opponents of standardization say it limits choice and creativity, in addition to not fully considering the patient’s specific needs. This session will challenge the audience on whether and/or when standardization is the best option.

Learning Objectives:

1. Analyze the critical considerations when choosing equipment.

2. Explain how to optimize existing equipment.

3. Compare how academic medical center vs non-profit vs for-profit designation can drive decision-making.

4. Describe the situational factors which may help you decide if standardization is right for your operation.