Avoiding Risk of Failures & Maximising Patient Safety – Engineering Lessons For Clinical Applications

Avoiding Risk of Failures & Maximising Patient Safety – Engineering Lessons For Clinical Applications

Bill Contoyannis
Manager/Rehabilitation Engineer, REHAB TECH

Time: 21 November 2017, 18:30 AEDT (Networking from 18:00)

Venue: The Unicorn Club, MHSOBA Melbourne High School, Forrest Hill, South Yarra

All Welcome. This is a joint meeting for RES and SMBE.

Abstract

The aim of this lecture is to highlight issues that govern aspects of clinical & technical technology failures particularly in relation to technology that goes “home” with the patient by looking at a range of incidents and statistics. By understanding what went wrong which led to these incidents, patient safety can be maximised and failures can be minimised. Further, we will consider the practical management aspects of implementing “safe” processes from hazard identification, risk assessment, the controls which are put in place and all of the procedures which are defined and adopted. This also outlines practices that will help you avoid litigation and is part of the overall quality process that is in place to ensure the best outcomes.

Biography

Bill is a senior forensic engineer with Mark Dohrmann and Partners Pty Ltd conducting investigations and providing expert advice. He was instrumental in the setting up of REHAB TECH, a Prosthetics, Orthotics and Assistive Technology consulting service and research unit originally at Australia’s Monash University’s Centre for Biomedical Engineering and now a private entity.

He is a qualified rehabilitation Engineer with a degree in Mechanical engineering and a Masters of Biomedical Engineering and is an adviser to health departments, professional organisations and support associations throughout Australia.

He has been involved in a broad range of rehabilitation and assistive technology areas and has contributed to the field area of prosthetics for over twenty five years and with a range of activities including incident investigation, education, research, advice and clinical support.

He managed and conducted technical failure investigations on behalf of a nation-wide reporting scheme for over ten years. As part of this work he conducted formal training courses worldwide in patient safety, failures of assistive technology devices and litigation avoidance, and material science relating to the fabrication of artificial limbs, orthopaedic devices, wheelchairs and other assistive technology.

He is a co-author of Chapter 3 – Material Science, AAOS Atlas of Orthoses and Assistive Devices, (Fourth Edition).

Bill has extensive experience in:

  • The materials used in prosthetics and orthotics and the engineering and science applicable to their application.
  • the investigation of incidents, injuries and component or product failures.
  • the establishment of inspection intervals and equipment management schemes for the determination of life cycle and safe use analysis.
  • liaison between clients, lawyers (attorneys) and the statutory bodies such as the Therapeutic Devices Branch, (Australia’s FDA) as well as expert advice at trial.