DVIDS – News – Collaboration helps focus on sustaining new military medical devices

FORT DETRICK, Md. — Collaboration between U.S. Army medical equipment developers and supporters means that new devices fielded for the warfighter provide not only the capabilities required, but also the longevity and durability on the land, as well as value to the American taxpayer.

The partnership between the U.S. Army Medical Device Development Activity, Medical Device Developer, and the U.S. Army Medical Logistics Command, U.S. Army Medical Device Lifecycle Management Command The army continued to develop during a recent operational field test of new equipment at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in late September.

There, USAMMDA operators and product managers got first-hand insight into the capabilities of new x-ray systems being developed for veterinary detachments.

At the same time, it allowed AMLC’s Integrated Logistics Support Center, or ILSC, to assess the durability of this device, taking into account future preventive maintenance, calibration and repair requirements.

Jessy Moore, health technology manager for the ILSC’s Readiness and Sustainment Directorate, or R&S, observed the test to account for those sustaining needs.

“My role was just to observe the test plan and see how the end users, the clinicians use the device, and also to observe the 68As, or the medical maintenance technicians, and how they were able to read the manual and perform a preventive maintenance inspection and calibration check on equipment,” Moore said of the Sept. 27-29 test event.

Although ILSC observers are not directly involved in the field test, which is managed by USAMMDA, Moore said there is a lot to watch and consider.

How will the medical technicians be able to repair the device if it breaks down? Do they have the appropriate test equipment, tools, and skills to maintain the device, once it is commissioned and transitions to maintenance?

ILSC’s responsibility is to influence support and sustainment over the acquisition lifecycle so that product development and modernization results in supportable, durable and affordable medical equipment before a device is fielded into force.

Moore said a review focused on sustaining an operational test can pick up on some things that could cause problems in the future, like the need for more comprehensive, explanatory repair manuals that include photos or step-by-step instructions. step-by-step to clearly indicate how to repair and conduct preventive maintenance of a device in the field.

“If we catch it early, keeping it isn’t an afterthought,” Moore said. “If the device was already in service and we did not take it into account, it is more difficult to maintain this device.”

Sustainment planning early in an aircraft’s lifecycle can save the Army time and money in the form of unscheduled repairs, parts, and training for operators and maintenance managers. maintenance.

“It all snowballs if things are missed early in the acquisition process that could have been easily identified had we been present during this operational test,” Moore said.

R&S Director Pam Wetzel emphasized the importance of the partnership between AMLC and USAMMDA, which serves as the product manager, or PM, for new medical devices, especially early in the procurement process.

Being involved from the early stages of hardware development allows us “to better support PM in all their projects and systems,” she said, in addition to building positive working relationships with PM teams across the country. ‘USAMMDA.

“As members of these teams and participants in these events, we build this collaboration with the PM and become each other’s subject matter experts,” Wetzel said. “The sooner we engage all parties to help identify potential areas of concern in the lifecycle management process, the better the end product will be.”

USAMMDA Commander Col. James “Andy” Nuce echoed Wetzel in saying that collaborative partnerships with stakeholders, like the AMLC, ensure sustainment options are realized and create efficiencies for service branches and taxpayers.

“Filling critical equipment gaps and delivering medical supplies to the warfighter is what USAMMDA does,” Nuce said. “Together we make sure the fighter has the essential sets, kits and outfits they need to be mission ready.”