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Getinge Hospital Engineering Forum (GHEF) - Global Sustainability
Start Date:9/21/2020
Start Time: 7:00 AM EDT, 11:00 AM UTC, 1:00 PM CEST, 2:00 PM EEST
Duration:90 minutes
Abstract:
Making a difference - opportunities to address organizational social responsibility in resource constrained countries
Many visitors to under resourced hospitals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are instantly struck by the lack of functional medical equipment as they see stacks of broken or unused equipment lining hospital hallways and courtyards. As a result of these experiences, organizations are often solicited or made aware of the need for equipment donations. While well-intended, donated medical equipment is frequently unusable in limited resource settings; instead of solving a serious problem, they become another problem to be solved, adding to the graveyard of unused equipment.
The WHO estimates 80 percent of medical equipment in LMICs is donated. At the same time, the Director General of the WHO noted in 2010 that “about 70% of the more complex medical devices do not function when they reach their destination” (WHO 2010). If 70% of donated medical equipment is out of service, does a donation strengthen the health system?
For organizations who allege social, ethical and environmental responsibility as part of their identity, it is time to redefine the meaning of these commitments. Sustainability involves much more than simply providing an expensive, complex piece of equipment. Sustainability involves partnering with health care organizations to plan, implement and evaluate outcomes.
Donations made without sustainability in mind become problems instead of solutions; when thoughtfully made through partnerships with LMICs they become valuable tools used to save lives. This webinar will address some of the challenges that exist in LMIC healthcare contexts and highlight helpful resources that provide guidance for organizations looking to support sustainability.
Many visitors to under resourced hospitals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are instantly struck by the lack of functional medical equipment as they see stacks of broken or unused equipment lining hospital hallways and courtyards. As a result of these experiences, organizations are often solicited or made aware of the need for equipment donations. While well-intended, donated medical equipment is frequently unusable in limited resource settings; instead of solving a serious problem, they become another problem to be solved, adding to the graveyard of unused equipment.
The WHO estimates 80 percent of medical equipment in LMICs is donated. At the same time, the Director General of the WHO noted in 2010 that “about 70% of the more complex medical devices do not function when they reach their destination” (WHO 2010). If 70% of donated medical equipment is out of service, does a donation strengthen the health system?
For organizations who allege social, ethical and environmental responsibility as part of their identity, it is time to redefine the meaning of these commitments. Sustainability involves much more than simply providing an expensive, complex piece of equipment. Sustainability involves partnering with health care organizations to plan, implement and evaluate outcomes.
Donations made without sustainability in mind become problems instead of solutions; when thoughtfully made through partnerships with LMICs they become valuable tools used to save lives. This webinar will address some of the challenges that exist in LMIC healthcare contexts and highlight helpful resources that provide guidance for organizations looking to support sustainability.
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REGISTER NOW!Speakers
Christina Fast
Founder & Executive Director
SPECT
Christina Fast is a Canadian Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) and sterile processing educator, known for her dedication to improving sterile processing practices in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Fast is the founder and executive director at Sterile Processing Education Charitable Trust (SPECT), a non-profit charitable organization providing training programs to health care workers in resource limited areas.
Through SPECT, Fast has worked in 14 LMICs across Africa, Asia and Central America, partnered with over 200 healthcare facilities and provided training to 1400 health care workers. In 2018, Fast was recognized as IAHCSMM’s Educator of the Year and in 2017 as one of Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 to make a difference. She has co-authored numerous papers published in high-impact journals and has presented her work and research at national and international conferences.
Jean-Pierre Breysse
Senior Director Strategic Office
Getinge
With a background of Biomedical engineer, Jean-Pierre Breysse has always had a relevant work experience in the context of capital medical equipment further to his Clinical Engineering educational cursus (Université de Technologie de Compiègne from 1979 to 1984).
In an international context, Jean-Pierre Breysse has held various positions such as Clinical Engineer , Sales Manager, Business Development Manager, Sales Support Manager and Research Director for Maquet SAS (Getinge Group). During this part of his career, dedicated to Marketing & sales activities or Research & Development, Jean-Pierre Breysse used this passion for medical products to contribute to the development and the marketing of Surgical Lights within Maquet, always guided by the conviction that regarding product development “If you want to see the fruits of your labor you should not dig up the seeds”. It is therefore quite logical that Jean-Pierre Breysse was inclined to participate in the long term standardization activities on Surgical Lights, Operating Tables and low temperature sterilization.
From 1990-to-2013 he attended the IEC60601-2-41 standard meetings as a member then Convenor (Particular requirements for the safety of surgical luminaires). Since 2019 Jean-Pierre Breysse acts as Convenor of CEN TC 102 WG6 (Low temperature sterilizers) and is, in parallel Convenor of IEC 60601-2-46 (Particular requirements for the basic safety and essential performance of operating tables).
Ralf Schmitt
Corporate Head of Sustainability
Getinge
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