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Ask the expert: How should hospitals assess vendor competency?

Medical Staff Leader Connection, June 11, 2008

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An issue that has raised a lot of questions in the field is how organizations can ensure that healthcare industry representatives (HCIRs), typically referred to as vendors, are competent to provide training or services. HCIRs can be allowed to provide training and/or services for medical devices, oftentimes in the OR or in other clinical settings, such as ambulatory surgery centers, cardiac cath labs, etc. Because they are familiar with their product, their presence can be beneficial to a surgeon, as they offer technical support or other valuable information about the product.

Like all other individuals in the OR, HCIRs must have a "ticket" to provide services. Your organization must determine what the appropriate mechanism is to grant HCIRs permission to provide services and what services it will allow them to provide. Additionally, your organization must have a mechanism in place to ensure that HCIRs are competent to perform the services it grants them permission to perform. Lastly, your organization must ensure that the HCIRs are appropriately oriented to the facility and to your OR policies and procedures (or whichever area they will be working). Anyone in the facility for a significant period of time should be educated on the safety codes.

This week’s question and answer were excerpted from The Essential Guide to Medical Staff Reappointment, Second Edition by Anne Roberts, CPMSM, CPCS.

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