Rigel 288 passes the time test at medical supply company
The UK’s leading provider of medical supplies and services to primary care has cut by more than three quarters the time taken to test the safety of hundreds of ECG machines by using Rigel Medical 288 electrical safety analysers.
Williams Medical Supplies (WMS), based in Rhymney, South Wales, provides medical supplies and services to over 8,500 GP practices throughout the UK, including their test and calibration service.
Using the Rigel 288 has enabled the company’s 18-strong team of technicians to save an average of 25 minutes when testing the electrical safety of ECG machines.
Previously, it used to take 30 minutes to complete a test but this can now be achieved in five minutes – an 80% time saving.
The team also uses the Rigel 288 to safe test thousands of other electrically powered items of equipment used by GPs and nurses including defibrillators, patient monitors and ear syringes.
In 2007, WMS decided to replace its existing electrical safety testers with the smaller and more lightweight, hand held 288s. Following this, technicians have been able to significantly increase the amount of equipment they test on a daily basis, which can be upwards of 40 individual items.
Hugh Hamer, head of medical services at WMS, estimates that technicians are overall now operating 15% more efficiently when it comes to testing all types of medical equipment thanks to the portability and time saving benefits of the 288.
WMS currently uses ten 288s but is looking to increase this in 2010 because of its superior performance. It also uses other Rigel instruments for SpO2 device testing and Seaward PrimeTest 350s for PAT testing of non-medical equipment like TVs, kitchen appliances and PCs.
Hugh Hamer says technicians undertake test and calibration services in over 2,500 GP premises in the UK and use the Rigel 288 at many of these sites.
"The 288 is an excellent test instrument," he added. "The technicians find them easy-to-use and appreciate the fact that they’re compact enough to carry around with them.
"Rigel provides excellent aftersales support, which is another important reason why we use their products. Product training has been very good while they have been very responsive to our needs over the past few years."
The Rigel 288 incorporates easy-to-follow menu driven instructions for simple operation and test control of all IEC 62353 required electrical safety tests in manual, semi automatic or fully automatic test modes.
Available as part of a special test kit is the new battery operated Test ‘n Tag Elite printer which provides an easy way to generate tamper proof barcode pass-fail labels or result print outs.
The Elite printer also has the additional ability to design and print customised logos or contact details on every label printed.
This not only gives a clear indication of the electrical safety of the medical equipment, but also a simple way of providing contact details in the event of unexpected service requirements.
Each label offers a cost effective way of enhancing customer service and is unique to the Rigel 288. The Elite can also be used with thermal paper for on the spot printing of test results using the industry standard 50mm wide paper.
For traceability and safety audit purposes, wireless connection also means that data from the Rigel 288’s large internal memory can be transferred immediately and directly from the tester to PC-based record keeping systems at the touch of a button.
The 288 forms part of a comprehensive range of high performance specialist biomedical test equipment supplied by Rigel Medical, part of the Seaward Group. More at Rigel Medical is based at Bracken Hill, South West Industrial Estate, Peterlee, County Durham, SR8 2SW.
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