Using laptop computers as a BMET field service tool.

Abstract

This system has been in operation for approximately two years at the time of this writing, and involves more than a dozen laptop computers. The true test of whether something is successful is the degree of acceptance that is generated by the people who must use it. Approximately two months after beginning this process, our biomedical equipment technicians (BMETs) asked us to expand utilization of this system to a greater segment of our client base because it was so much simpler than our prior paper method. Our ability to track events that occur in the field is much improved with any problems identified in procedures being communicated through the private comments. Not only are the printed PM forms far more legible than the prior hand-entered results, but the concept of test-to-standards now is far more practical because the testing protocols are a keypress away, and the question of whether the technician would take the time to look up in the cumbersome procedure manuals those things that he or she was only slightly unsure of is addressed. Additionally, we have seen more than a 25% reduction in data-handling associated with the processing of the PM inspections in this fashion. Even with the time necessary to create the data disks, upload them, and process them through the filter, we are still saving substantial time over the manual handling of paper.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)