By AAMI
AAMI’s Health Technology Collection Puts Innovation on Display
AAMI has unveiled its Health Technology Collection, museum-like exhibit housed at the AAMI Center for Excellence in Arlington, Virginia. The Collection displays the breadth and depth of medical devices designed to treat disease and improve the quality of life of patients.
The first 14 devices and artifacts include an infusion pump, artificial joints and even medical instruments used on the battlefield. All are loaned or donated by AAMI member organizations and individuals.
“The Health Technology Collection represents not only great innovations in health technology, but the many people who have dedicated their lives to developing and using this life-saving technology,” said Sabrina Reilly, vice president of membership at AAMI. “Ensuring the safe and effective use of health technology is the mission of AAMI and its global community of stakeholders. We are incredibly grateful to all who have donated so far.”
AAMI is seeking additional donations or loans of medical devices or health technology artifacts for display that demonstrate significance in standards development or improving patient safety.
If you or your organization are interested in submitting artifacts to the collection, please contact sreilly@aami.org.
2020 Grant Cycle Opens for Mary K. Logan Research Awards
The AAMI Foundation is now accepting applications for its Mary K. Logan Research Awards, a grant program aimed at supporting research that enhances the safe adoption and safe use of health technology. Recipients are eligible to receive up to $80,000 in funding for their projects.
Topics can vary widely – focusing on, for example – device technology, processes, sterilization, dialysis, healthcare technology management and other issues. Priority is given to topics that do not have other available sources for funding. Junior investigators with strong mentorship are encouraged to apply.
Research projects should seek to:
- Yield results that can be applied or used by other health care organizations.
- Improve methods of patient safety with a defined and direct path to implementation into patient care settings.
- Study problems for which deeper understanding is needed before effective solutions can be applied.
Applications for the Logan grant should be submitted no later than 5 p.m. ET on Dec. 31, 2019 at www.AAMIFoundation.org/MKL-Awards.
To learn more about AAMI Foundation scholarships, awards and grants, visit www.AAMIFoundation.org.
New Projects for Sterilization and HTM Education
The AAMI Standards Board approved three new work item proposals in November – two projects in the sterilization area and one in the medicinal equipment management area.
- AAMI ST108, Water for the processing of reusable medical devices, is a new standard that is intended to replace the technical information report AAMI TIR34:2014/(R)2017, Water for the reprocessing of medical devices. ST108 will establish the minimum requirements for the appropriate grades of water used at different points in the medical device reprocessing sequence. These minimum requirements will help ensure successful cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of devices and minimize the chance of device damage during processing.
- AAMI TIR109, External transport of medical devices processed by health care facilities, is a new TIR that will provide comprehensive guidance on externally transporting medical devices from one health care facility to another health care facility or centralized processing plant, either for use, sterilization, disinfection or decontamination.
- AAMI EQ110, Guidance for health care technology management education programs, is a new standard that will provide a baseline for healthcare technology management (HTM) education programs that offer associate degrees in arts or a bachelor’s of arts degrees. EQ110 will offer a recommended framework for new or established degree programs in HTM. It will define the basic requirements for starting such a program and provide guidance on resolving gaps in existing HTM educational programs.
AAMI Foundation Offers 10 Scholarships in 10th Year of Program
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Michael J. Miller Scholarship Program, the AAMI Foundation will award 10 scholarships to students pursuing a career in a healthcare technology management (HTM) field. So far, the AAMI Foundation has awarded a total of $99,000 to 35 students to help fund their education.
“We’ve come a long way in the last decade – from awarding two, $2,500 scholarships to 10 scholarships at $3,000 each in 2020,” said Steve Campbell, executive director of the AAMI Foundation. “These scholarships are vitally important to help the next generation of professionals who will ensure that health technology is both safe and effective.”
For the first time, all scholarship recipients will receive an all-expense paid trip to attend the AAMI Exchange, June 12-15, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
“This conference experience will be a great way for the students to get to know AAMI, to network, to look for career opportunities and to learn,” said Steve Yelton, chair of the AAMI Foundation Board of Directors.
The application process is now open for the 2020 scholarships – nine of which will be given to students studying to become HTM professionals, including biomedical equipment technicians or clinical engineers; and one to a systems engineering student. To apply, complete an online application form by Jan. 6 and include:
- A short essay that details the student’s career plans and demonstrate their academic excellence and technical aptitude.
- Two letters of recommendation from professional contacts.
- The most recent transcript and proof of admission into a healthcare technology program.
“These scholarships are possible thanks to the support of so many generous contributors,” said Campbell. “That support is going directly to the students and it’s making a world of difference.”
For more information about the AAMI Foundation scholarship application or about making an individual or corporate donation to the scholarship program, go to www.aami.org/Scholarship.