Happy Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) Week! Though you may not know it, HTM professionals are the folks who ensure the safe and effective use of healthcare tech, and this year more than ever has shown how crucial HTM professionals really are. Last week, we celebrated the tireless efforts of our frontline nursing staff, and this week we celebrate the equally essential (but less visible) contributions of our HTM staff around the globe.
COVID-19 has brought unprecedented changes to the HTM field (just like it has in every other aspect of your lives). You’ve likely heard about the importance of ventilators, but may not be aware of the amount of time, coordination, and knowledge required by the people who are responsible for commissioning and maintaining them. That’s just one of the responsibilities of HTM staff - they’ve also had to figure out the logistics of safely 3D printing PPE in the face of shortages, how to expand the capabilities of telemedicine to reduce risk for patients and clinicians, and real-time location tracking systems for equipment to ensure effective distribution.
The complexity of managing medical devices that have been temporarily approved to fight COVID-19 is this years #1 tech hazard (at least, it’s the #1 healthcare tech hazard - the #1 tech hazard is sentient robots. It’s always, always robots). But even when we’re not delaying the inevitable robot uprising, HTM professionals are working tirelessly to manage health equipment and keep patients safe. HTM West is your local HTM professional association. Please consider donating to us to support those working behind the scenes to improve healthcare in Western Canada.
#HTM professionals make sure that #healthcare #technology saves lives and improves #health. We at HTM West are proud to support their work! #IamHTM on #HTMWeek! www.aami.org/htmweek