June 15, 2005

A Message to AHA and ASHE Members:

In 2000, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) dedicated a portion of the radio spectrum for wireless medical telemetry devices such as wireless heart, blood pressure and respiratory monitors. The creation of the Wireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS) was a direct result of advocacy from the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE), expressing concern that electromagnetic interference with wireless medical telemetry equipment can affect patient safety.*

When the FCC allocated the WMTS bands (608-614 MHz, 1395-1400 MHz, and 1427-1432 MHz), they extended the freeze on issuing licenses to high power users in the 460-470 MHz bands for three years to allow hospitals time to migrate to WMTS. Recognizing hospitals’ difficulty in transitioning to WMTS because of limited financial resources and a lack of equipment, ASHE and the AHA worked with the FCC and leaders of the private land mobile radio service (PLMRS) community and extended the freeze until December 31, 2005. The FCC announced this final extension of the bandwidth freeze in its July 8, 2004 Public Notice.

The advisory addresses several issues and concerns with the expiration of the freeze, including potential interference from digital television stations operating in the TV band, and the requirement that hospitals need to register their medical telemetry equipment with ASHE, the FCC-designated medical telemetry coordinator. After reviewing this advisory, check off the following items from your to-do list:

• Share this advisory with your clinical and biomedical engineering professionals, critical care physicians, nursing staff and risk managers.
• Register your telemetry equipment.

The AHA and ASHE will continue to work closely with the FCC to ensure that interference does not compromise patient care and safety.

Rick Pollack Executive Vice President	W. Thomas Schipper President, ASHE

*In March of 1998, Dallas TV station WFFA turned on its new digital television (DTV) transmitter to test it on a previously vacant TV channel. The powerful signal from this testing overwhelmed low-power heart monitors at Baylor University Medical Center and Methodist Hospital, both of which were tuned to operate in the same vacant TV channel as WFFA.

To learn more, see the entire AHA Regulatory Advisory.
  

The next issue of ISHE Issues is at the printer and will soon be in your mailbox. Watch for stories including:

• Pepper Indiana completes Central Indiana’s first specialty hospital to focus on complete orthopaedic care
• Thanks from ASHE
• What makes for good facilities staff?
• Effective web based training techniques
• MICCS' plan for the future
• Cummins emergency power at Clarian West
• Midwest Healthcare Engineering Conference

... and more! If you would like to contribute an article and photos to the next issue of ISHE Insights, please contact Steve Thurston at sthurston@indy.rr.com. Materials are due by August 16.
  

This issue of ISHE E-Issues is being sent to members and non-members alike. If you're not an ISHE member but would like to take advantage of the ISHE network of professionals, the insider stories about local healthcare facilities, and the brightest minds in the industry, join ISHE. Download a membership brochure and application and fax or it mail it right now. Questions? Contact Stevens & Stevens at 317-726-0788.
  

"Combining Knowledge to Build Strengths" is just one way to maintain a fresh perspective and improve your work. Attending the Midwest Healthcare Engineering Conference, will offer you the opportunity to:

• exchange innovative ideas and practical information;
• gain new resources;
• develop processes to help strengthen and transform your career;
• shape your future.

Leaders from across the country will present the most up-to-date information in the industry. Take advantage of this opportunity to combine knowledge and build strengths. Make the decision to attend and discover why this is the most beneficial conference offered in the Midwest. Learn more at the Midwest Healthcare Engineering Conference web site.
  

A special administration of the Certified Healthcare Facility Manager (CHFM) Examination is being offered by the AHA Certification Center at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 2, during the Midwest Healthcare Conference. Interested individuals must apply by September 21, 2005. Walk-ins are not allowed to test. Begin by downloading the CHFM Candidate Handbook and Application from www.aha.org/certification (Click on the CHFM logo) or by calling AMP to order a copy. The Handbook includes eligibility requirements, a complete content outline for the Examination, sample test items, an application and instructions for completing the application.

Looking for study materials? Consider ordering the CHFM Self-Assessment Examination. Developed by the AHA Certification Center, the 100-item practice test mirrors the Examination in content, difficulty and cognitive level. For information on how to order, visit www.aha.org/certification.
  

We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming events!!!

Have a great day!!!!