250 milliseconds – that is the amount of time the human brain has to determine how to enable a counteraction when the body encounters a physical loss of balance situation. Any time in excess will most likely result in a fall. A most common natural reaction is to put out a hand in attempt to stabilize the body or may be even to break the impending fall. OUCH!! 250 milliseconds – the human brain is still in my opinion the ultimate of all technologies.
HTM service professionals in the field each and every day are constantly being challenged and to counter act by providing the appropriate resolution using their critical thinking pathway to problem solving. The length of time involved in their “thinking” may vary and depending as to the urgency or criticality of the challenge, either a counter acting balance will divert a tumble or maybe an unfortunate fall will occur.
The best and most successful method of diverting the “fall” is to best understand the surroundings of the challenge. What are its impacts? How can they be prevented? How quickly can a resolution occur? These are all critical thinking criteria the HTM professional must always reference back to and hone their skills in evaluating and resolving the easiest to most complex service events they become presented with or can proactively prevent.
As HTM service professionals the response to medical device service events, either emergent or scheduled in nature are pertinent to the clinical operations of your customer. The resulting absence from the clinical environment of that medical device regardless of application has residual and far reaching implications in the delivery of care to its ultimate healthcare customer, the patient. The patient’s experience, favorable or unfavorable, will now and forever more impact the HTM professional’s reliance and existence. Think about that statement a bit – pay for performance! Your career longevity is no longer a “nicety” in the healthcare setting. If the service asset (you!) cannot produce quick decisions and positive repair outcomes in an operationally time sensitive manner – an alternative solution will back fill your spot that can.
Just like any “banana peel” problem that may become the mission critical service event. The HTM professional called upon to understand, triage, diagnose and bring resolution will encounter that critical finite timeline and be required to determine the appropriate counteraction, divert the fall and in turn contribute to the enhancement of care to the patients we serve.