Novel times call for novel solutions—a truth that certainly rings true in the case of inventive healthcare technology management (HTM) professionals. Just look at how they are handling ventilators amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The dongle is handmade, little more than a circuit board encased in plastic with two connectors. One side goes to a ventilator’s patient monitor, another goes to the breath delivery unit. A third cable connects to a computer. “It’s a little box that goes in between the monitor and the breath delivery unit,” William, a ventilator refurbisher, said. “It’s made custom. The case is an old clock case.”
This little dongle—shipped to him by a hacker in Poland—has helped William repair at least 70 broken Puritan Bennett 840 ventilators that he’s bought on eBay and from other secondhand websites. He has sold these refurbished ventilators to hospitals and governments throughout the United States, to help them handle an influx of COVID-19 patients. Motherboard agreed to speak to William anonymously because he was not authorized by his company to talk to the media, but Motherboard verified the specifics of his story with photos and other biomedical technicians
Read the full article on Vice.
While I can understand the goal of trying to help the RtR movement, such “cowboy” approach is not helpful and only strengthens OEMs’ argument that FDA needs to regulate the servicers. Whoever is taking such approach is clearly in violation of the FDA regulations. The fact that some OEMs are taking advantage of the public and others does not justify, in my mind, illegal and potentially dangerous actions. This is like taking the law on one’s own hands and leading the country back to the wild-wild-West.
I am concerned that by encouraging such activities, the RtR may alienate law-abiding companies and persons who are trying to improve medical equipment servicing without using illegitimate means. I am willing to fight for changes in laws and regulations but not through or condoning illegal actions. We should educate our allies to promote good behavior and present our case based on solid evidence. It is critical, in my opinion, to gain public support via high moral ground, so we can convince the elected officials to act accordingly.