HMS Plus QC Management Plan

Hi there!  Our organization has 10 HMS plus devices between 2 sites, used by perfusion in the CVOR.  We are also running the HDR, HPT, and HR-ACT cartridges.  We have one back up instrument within the lab, point of care office (at each site), and the POCC will perform the new lot/shipment QC on reagents when they are delivered.  POC department orders and maintains inventory.  OR will come to the lab to restock their supplies.  Weekly QC is performed by the perfusionists in OR.  The devices are interfaced with our middleware, RALS.

Hello, We have 4 HMS+ devices in our OR on carts. They interface with RALS. But the interfacing is terrible as we have to use a digibox that is not wireless. We constantly have to reboot it as it shuts down when not connected at all times and sending data. We struggle with the exact same issue of short dated HPT cartridges and constantly juggling lot numbers and controls. We have the perfusionists run QC on all active lots weekly and on new lot/new shipments. We also struggle with them entering the correct lot information into the analyzer and this does affect what shows up in RALS versus what is on the print outs. The middleware only helps us really keep an eye on things and somewhat helps identify what they are doing wrong but  overall this device is terrible for POC management. 

What new CAP requirement are you referring to? As we have been getting pushback from the perfusionists to move Liquid QC to every 30 days with EQC every 8 hours.

Our organization has 3 HMS+ devices, one of which is our backup in our POCT office, used by perfusion in the CVOR.  We run the HDR, HPT (Silver and red), and HR-ACT cartridges.  POCT orders the supplies and maintains inventory.  POC will perform the new lot/shipment QC on cartridges when they are delivered and then every 30 days on any supply still in inventory.   New shipment/lot of QC is also checked with existing cartridges when delivered.  We also rotate perfusion staff to run the liquid QC with either the new lot/shipment of cartridges or the every 30 day check.  Perfusion will come to the POC lab to restock their supplies and signs out what they take.  Perfusion runs the EQC device before and after each case.  POC performs the temp verification and dispense volume checks twice a month.    The devices are interfaced with our middleware, RALS.  We have an IQCP plan documented as well.

Hello!
We do not have a back up analyzer in the lab/POC office unfortunately, all devices are in use for cases. However, we just purchased 6 new devices to replace our old ones and are in the process of validating them. Thanks to your feedback, maybe we would be able to keep one of the old devices that would ultimately be sunset to have in our office for new lot performance. Our OR orders their own supplies and it gets delivered to them directly. We do have a fridge in the lab that they house supplies for the ABL90 and Hemochron that they can come grab so there may be potential to store their cartridges and QC down here. That would be taking on a whole new process for us and unfortunately the HMS is NOT a small analyzer to have in our small office but its an idea at least. 
How do you manage having them enter the correct lot information into the device? Do you still see fallouts with this even though some of you are "checking out" the supplies? 
I am also learning that most places this is run by Perfusion so I am not entirely sure why this is run by our Anesthesia Techs. I will have to dive into that as well. 

Deborah, how are you able to have 30 Days for an IQCP plan? Ours is every 7 still even with an IQCP. I have personally never written an IQCP, just inherited all of the ones I have. I would love to hear more about/see your IQCP if you don't mind sharing. Even being able to drop the frequency down to every 30 days I think would drastically help! 

Thank you all for your awesome feedback!

We have 4 HMS and our IQCP is written for 30 days. We ran external QC with the electronic QC for 31 days.  Perfusion runs the external QC monthly  on each HMS and on any new lots.  We are interfaced with Telcor, however I have a manual QC sheet they use to record the external QC and I use Telcor for the EQC.  I sequester one lot for the external QC so I have already fill in the lot numbers and expiration dates on the QC form.  They attach the printout as well as a double check.  We place the new lot number of cartridges with the QC sheet taped to it.  Our perfusionists are great to perform the QC and we pick it up the next day.