THEICECOMMUNITY.COM
DIGITAL SUPPLEMENT
ADVANCING MAGAZINE
IMAGING PROFESSIONALS
DIGITAL SUPPLEMENT SPONSORED BY:
iMed Biomedical
Leading the Industry in Biomedical Solutions
FEATURED INSIDE P.2 COMPANY SHOWCASE: WITH THE PRESIDENT P.4 IMED BIOMEDICAL ACHIEVES ISO CERTIFICATIONS P.5 GET UP CLEAN UP CONTEST
P.6 JOURNEY TO ISO: AN INTERVIEW WITH IMED’S DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS P.8 WHO WE ARE
DISCLAIMER: MD Publishing (ICE magazine) takes every precaution to ensure accuracy of content; however, the information, opinions, and statements expressed in the articles and advertisements herein are those of the writer and/or advertiser, and not those of our company.
COMPANY SHOWCASE with jake powell
i
Med Biomedical launched in 2014 after noticing a gap in the medical service industry in the Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) area of Texas. While onsite BMETs were able to service their equipment locally, there really wasn’t a higher level support for those engineers.
“Having been a biomedical technician myself in the United States Army, I was a little shocked to see the lack of support in the form of supplemental labor, quality replacement parts, specialized equipment services, project management, depot repairs and CMS/TJC consulting,” explains iMed Biomedical Inc. President and CEO Jake Powell. “Despite the need I saw, we understood that starting a biomedical services company in the highly saturated DFW market wouldn’t come easy, especially if iMed hoped to solve some of the commonly overlooked service issues that nobody else seemed to be addressing.” 2
DIGITAL SUPPLEMENT | IMED BIOMEDICAL
“As a startup with virtually no reputation, we recognized that we would need to build a brand for our organization and bring an exceptional customer experience to the table if JAKE POWELL we were going to iMed Biomedical survive. I believed President that if we could and CEO truly prioritize patient safety above all else, that the rest of the chips would fall into place,” Powell adds. “Four years later, we have expanded into a comprehensive biomedical solutions company with a wide range of capabilities. We are currently providing biomedical services in over 20 states stretching from California to Maine. Our ability to listen to the customer, create a unique service package based on their needs, and
deliver with precise, cost-effective solutions have earned us a reputation as a reliable partner for hospitals and clinics nationwide.” TechNation quizzed Powell to find out more about iMed Biomedical. What are some advantages that your company has over the competition?
Q
Powell: One of the advantages that we take pride in is our tailored approach to each individual project we take on. We like to meet our customers with a “blank canvas philosophy.” By taking into consideration the customer’s goals and concerns, whether they be the lowest-priced solution, the highest-quality solution, or the happy median therein – we can provide an unrivaled service package that hits the bullseye for our customer. What are some challenges that your company faced last year?
Q
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Left: iMed technician performs maintenance on a power supply assembly for dialysis. Right: iMed technician examines an injector for depot repair.
Powell: The main challenge we’ve faced over the past year would have to be scalability. Last year, iMed not only took on more large-scale service projects than we ever had before; we also took on far more complex projects. In order to execute our responsibilities properly, we had to expand our stable of qualified technicians. Almost immediately, this change presented us with another problem. While we now had the necessary staff in place to tackle the influx of new projects, we were very quickly outgrowing our real estate. We needed something bigger. In May of this year, we moved our base of operations into a new 7,000 square foot facility in Carrollton, Texas. Can you share the company’s core competencies and unique selling points?
Q
Powell: Our business is divided into two facets: service and parts. On the service side, we specialize in dialysis, O2 blenders, injectors and CT/MRI. Our parts portfolio includes batteries for the Alaris 8015 and AIL sensors for the Alaris 8100, as well as top cases and batteries for the Medfusion 3500 and 4000. In addition, we manufacture an oxygen blender kit that is compatible with any Bird-style O2 blender. Every part iMed manufactures is done to strict OEM specification and comes with a 1-year warranty. SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
What product or service are you most excited about right now?
Q
Powell: The most exciting thing for me right now would have to be our oxygen blender repair service or the implementation of our new O2 blender kit. At our shop, we use an efficient assembly-line process for blender repairs that affords us quicker turnaround times than any of our competitors. Our development team spent nearly half a year on various prototypes for an oxygen blender kit. The idea was to create a universal Bird-style blender kit that would meet OEM specifications for fit, form and functionality across the board. After a rigorous R&D process, we were finally able to roll out a kit that would be perfectly compatible for any “Bird-style” oxygen blender, whether it be Bird, Viasys, Siemens, Ohmeda, Omega Low Flow, or Select Ohio Medical Blenders. As a result of our hard work, we are now able to tackle oxygen blenders for our customers with the same approach we brought to infusion pumps in 2014 – both as a parts supplier and as a service provider.
Q
Can you tell us a little bit about your employees?
or are currently serving, in the United States military. The same virtues of respect, discipline and hard work that define this nation’s Armed Forces are also an integral part of the culture at iMed Biomedical. As a business owner, I am frequently honored to receive unsolicited, positive customer feedback after an on-site dispatch praising the professionalism and politeness of our technicians. We only hire military trained or degree-certified technicians. Thus, if one of our BMETs is working on a device of yours, you can rest assured that they have been trained on the machine and have the certification to back it up.
Q
What is most important to you about the way you do business?
Powell: We always put the customer first and pride ourselves on helping them in any capacity. If there is a competitor of ours who offers a specialization we do not, we will refer the customer to them every time. Furthermore, we are not here to replace your biomedical department. Rather, we focus on the task at hand with an emphasis for patient safety and an exceptional customer experience. • For more information call (888) 965-4633 or visit www.iMedBiomedical.com.
Powell: iMed Biomedical is proud to be a veteran-owned business. In fact, 75 percent of our current staff served, IMED BIOMEDICAL | DIGITAL SUPPLEMENT
3
iMed Biomedical Achieves ISO Certifications
i
Med Biomedical Inc. (iMed) has announced its ISO 9001:2015 and 13485:2016 certification. As part of the ISO certification process, iMed Biomedical engaged in a rigorous audit of its product and service quality requirements. The FDA conducted market research on third-party service organizations in the equipment repair industry. They concluded that there is not enough information to determine if non-OEM organizations would negatively or positively impact patient safety or quality of care. Lastly, they recommended these companies obtain an
ISO certification to improve consistency of services and reduce liability. Becoming dual certified, showcases iMed’s dedication to the quality of the services and products we provide. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN MOVING FORWARD? “We continue implementing the ISO standard and keep looking for ways to improve. As a team, we will constantly look for opportunities to build and support the industry with products that are dependable yet coupled with innovation and creativity,” a press release from iMed states.
MAMMOGRAPHY
iMed Offers Full Equipment Service
SERVICES We provide hospitals and medical facilities with a trustworthy source for mammography repair services, full service contracts and preventative maintenance.
SUPPORTED BRANDS GE, Hologic
WE ALSO SERVICE: C-ARM | X-RAY | PORTABLES | MAMMO | DEXA | CT
iMed Biomedical
Leading the Industry in Biomedical Solutions
Contact us today to learn more! imedbiomedical.com
888.965.4633 ISO 13485:2016 certified
4
DIGITAL SUPPLEMENT | IMED BIOMEDICAL
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
A new contest for healthcare technology management professionals promotes an organized and clean workspace. In the spirit of previous contests like Trick Out Your Cart, iMed Biomedical ask biomeds to spruce up their space. The grand prize is a $300 gift card and a lunch for the HTM department. The runner-up and third-place winners will receive a $100 gift card each. SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
To participate in the contest HTM professionals or departments should pick an area of their department, then get up and clean up. Submit a before and after photo of the workspace to be entered to win. Be sure to include yourself or members of the department in the photo. Submit photos to 1technation.com/contest-workspace-win to enter.
IMED BIOMEDICAL | DIGITAL SUPPLEMENT
5
RUSSENDER POWELL
iMed Biomedical Inc. Director of Operations
Journey to ISO:
An interview with iMed’s Director of Operations.
i
Med Biomedical Inc. (iMed) in May of this year announced its ISO 9001:2015 and 13485:2016 certifications. As part of the ISO certification process, iMed engaged in a rigorous audit of its product and service quality requirements.
The FDA has conducted market research on third-party service organizations in the equipment repair industry and concluded that there is not enough information to determine if non-OEM organizations would negatively or positively impact patient safety or quality of care. Lastly, the FDA recommended that third-party service companies obtain an ISO certification to improve consistency of services and reduce liability. Becoming dual certified, showcases iMed’s dedication to the quality of the services and products it provides. 6
DIGITAL SUPPLEMENT | IMED BIOMEDICAL
“We continue implementing the ISO standard and keep looking for ways to improve. As a team, we will constantly look for opportunities to build and support the industry RUSSENDER with products POWELL that are dependiMed Biomedical able yet coupled Director of with innovation Operations and creativity,” a press release from iMed states. ICE magazine recently interviewed iMed Biomedical Inc. Director of Operations Russender Powell to find out more about the company.
Can you share a little bit about your company’s history and how you achieved success.
Q
Powell: iMed Biomedical Inc. is leading the industry in biomedical solutions. Our company has a rich history while uniquely positioned as a market innovator by providing highly customized mission critical technology to both supply-side health facilities and demand-side medical supply distributors. While I am very proud of our heritage, I am more excited about our future. iMed Biomedical Inc. was built on the foundation of four guiding principles. Our guiding principles are designed to reflect our culture, values and beliefs. I am personally committed to uphold our principles in decisions that help shape our strategy, growth and success.
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Becoming dual certified, showcases iMed’s dedication to the quality of the services and products it provides.
What are iMed Biomedical’s four guiding principles?
Q
Powell: Our guiding principles are affectionately called the 4Ps. Our four guiding principles are as follows: • People Our goal is to hire, retain and reward talented, dedicated and intellectually curious people. Our people are the differentiator that distinguishes our company from the competition. • Product Build and support industry leading products and services – our products must be dependable yet coupled with innovation and creativity. • Purpose Develop an environment in which employees, customers and vendors feel connected to each other and our business. By giving of ourselves to others our lives will be enriched. • Profits As a result of delivering great products, produced and supported by great people that possess a sense of purpose, our customers will increase their profits. As a result of our customer’s success, we will increase our profits. Can you tell our readers more about the ISO certifications?
Q
Powell: We obtained both ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016. The primary difference between ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 for medical devices is the scope of these quality standards. ISO 9001 is the international standard SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
which provides specifications for a quality management system which can be applied at any organization regardless of industry, product or service, or company size. ISO 13485 is a comprehensive management system specifically for the manufacture of medical devices. Why did iMed want to earn the ISO certifications?
Q
Powell: We obtained both certifications because we wanted to mirror the same standard and requirements that the OEM must meet to gain FDA clearance. Our certification is a testament to the care and diligence that we deliver to our customers daily in providing the best service possible. Can you briefly explain the ISO process?
Q
Powell: There is nothing brief about the ISO process. To start the ISO process, you must create a Quality Management System (QMS) that includes your policies, processes and procedures to execute a core function of the business. Your management team will assign process owners for each core function of the QMS and monitor performance goals and execution. Each process owner will document non-conformance, maintain risk management records, and provide feedback to the team, which will guide toward continual improvement. Once you feel like you have established processes and procedures and data to show that
your QMS is effective, reach out to a certified auditing firm to establish your audit plan and timeline. Can you describe the ISO process for refurbishing imaging parts?
Q
Answer: For parts that have been identified as having a high failure rate, we have work instructions that detail the steps to begin the repair and testing of each component of the unit. Once the appropriate tests are completed, qualifying parts are moved to the process of refurbishing. The refurbishing process begins with component and subcomponent checks; replacement of worn parts with original spare parts, software updates with optional upgrades, individual configuration, and performance check comparable to a new system. Then, move to cleaning and disinfection. What did iMed learn during the process to help it better serve customers?
Q
Answer: We learned how to integrate a strategic review of customer feedback as well as our performance into our continual improvement plan. Also, there has been a move to better methods developed to obtain customer feedback from surveys and questionnaires. Risk assessment and terms agreement procedures to that have reduced customer complaints. Also, we have been able to provide service that is more prescriptive to our customer’s needs. • IMED BIOMEDICAL | DIGITAL SUPPLEMENT
7
“Our customers choose iMed as an alternative to OEM support because we have proven ourselves to respond quicker to incidents, with
more
cost savings and far more
PROVIDING A TRUSTWORTHY transparency throughout the PLASMA ANESTHE SOURCE FOR YOUR BIOMEDICAL customer experience.” BLENDER & IMAGING NEEDS. WHO WE ARE?
WHAT WE DO?
MAMMOG PROVIDING A TRUSTWORTHY BONE DEN iMed has established a We provide hospitals and SOURCE FOR YOUR R&F ROO reputation as a preferred medical facilitiesBIOMEDICAL with a
biomedical & imaging trustworthy & IMAGING NEEDS.&source service provider in the for biomedical imaging WHO WE ARE? WHAT WE DO? RESPIRAT United States. repair services andWHAT WHO WEpreventative ARE? OXYGEN maintenance. WE DO? INFUSION iMed has established a We provide hospitals and iMed has We provide hospitals and medical reputation as a preferred medical facilities with a biomedical & imaging trustworthysource source established a facilities with a trustworthy CONTRAS service provider in the for biomedical & imaging reputation as a for biomedical & imaging repair United States. repair services and X-RAY & P preventative maintenance. preferred services and preventative C-ARMS
PROVIDING A TRUSTWORTHY SOURCE FOR YOUR BIOMEDICAL & IMAGING NEEDS. biomedical &
maintenance.
imaging service provider in the United States.
Get in touch 1-888 965 4633
Get in touch • 1-888-965-4633 • www.iMedBiomedical.com
ISO 9001 & 13485 Certified
www
iMed Biomed
Leading the Industry
iMed Biomedical Providing a trustworthy source for your biomedical & imaging needs.
•
Plasma sterilization
•
Contrast Injectors
•
Anesthesia
•
X-Ray & Portables
Our expert field
•
Mammography
•
C-Arms
service E N G I engineers NEERS
•
Bone Density
•
R&F Rooms
•
Oxygen Blenders
OUR EXPERT
FIELD SERVICE
prioritize PR I O R I T I Z E patient PATIENT SAF E T Y A Babove OVE ALL safety ELSE. all else.
CONTACT US 1555 Valwood Pkwy Ste 110 Carrollton, TX 75006 +1-888-965-4633 service@iMedBiomedical.com Certified SDVOSB www.iMedBiomedical.com
iMed • Infusion Pumps Biomedical Providing a trustworthy source for your contrast injector equipment needs.
OUR EXPERT FIELD SERVICE
ENGINEERS PRIORITIZE PATIENT SAFETY ABOVE ALL
PLASMA STERILIZATION ELSE. ANESTHESIA BLENDER KITS BRANDS SUPPORTED: Medrad, Mallinckrodt, Acist
CONTACT US 1555 Valwood Pkwy Ste 110 Carrollton, TX 75006 +1-888-965-4633 service@iMedBiomedical.com Certified SDVOSB www.iMedBiomedical.com
Leading the Industry in Biomedical Solutions. iMed Biomedical is the preferred biomedical service provider in over 25 states.
OUR SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: Infusion Pumps
Respiratory
Oxygen Blender Solutions
CT/MRI
Dialysis
Parts
CMS/TJC Consulting
On-Site Labor
Low Temp Plasma Sterilization
Injectors
Depot Repairs
Specialized Equipment Services Project Management
Contact us today to learn more!
iMed Biomedical
Leading the Industry in Biomedical Solutions
imedbiomedical.com 888.965.4633