GEM Premier 7000

We have 31 7000s in our system and around 30 5000s. As sites hit their 5 year renewal mark they are converting to the 7000s, 

We actually were the first site world wide to have the 7000s and I cant say enough good things about them. The hemolysis detection that they offer is truly incredible. I have heard multiple providers form the OR say that having that hemolysis index changed how they managed their patient while on the operating table. 

The fact that no IQCP is required is a huge selling point for POC as well. All QC/Calibrations are included in the pak so there is nothing external your users have to remember to run when they change a cartridge. 

Thank you for your speedy response Christina.  31 instruments, soon to be 61 is very impressive!  How about maintenance/service?  Any frequent issues?  Bent probes? clots?  Easy to maintain?  Do the results correlate well across all platforms?  
If the instrument cannot clear a clot, must you replace the reagent pack?  Will Werfen replace a pack that was rendered useless because of a clot?
Do you use Gem Web + or connect directly to POC middleware.?

(Sorry in advance for my barrage of questions)
Tilly

We are an organization that has 25 facilities, so the devices are spread across all of those sites.  Maintenance/service for us has been very minimal. Each reagent pak contains the probe for that pack, and we have never had one bent that I know of. They are very easy to maintain, simply wipe the exterior each day and clean the pack well when you change the cartridge. Our results have correlated very consistently even when we were correlating the hemolysis index with our alinity analyzers in chemistry. 

After every sample the device runs an process control solution to verify that all the sensors are working and that the values provided are acceptable before the patient results show on the screen. If a clot is detected it will try to clear it, if it is unable then the device will disable which ever analyte is affected. Werfen does not replace full packs if they have been used and then are disabled, but they do give you credit for the tests lost from that pack. 

All of our devices connect to GWP. Majority go directly from GWP to DI to Epic because they are ran by respiratory and are solicited orders. But the devices that are true point of care workflow connect to GWP and we have that route to RALS and then to EPIC as they are unsolicited. 

We've had GEMs since GEM 3000.  We currently have the 5000 and plan to upgrade to the 7000. Some comments from our Respiratory Therapists:
Some advantages we feel will provide advantages to the GEM 7000 analyzer are:

I am curious to hear about your experiences with ABL90 and why your departments are looking at alternatives - our system is in a similar situation.

Hi Kyle- Our Cath Lab is looking for an option with less maintenance.  The ABLs require reagent pack, sensor and probe maintenance.  They are interested in the GEM 7000 because all is included in the reagent pack.  ABLs also have occasional reagent pack issues (although this has happened much less often of late), which is frustrating when the nurse is trying to get the instrument up.  ABL does replace the packs, once documentation is sent to them.  
  The rest of the features are similar and comparable.  Internal Cal, QC, no IQCP necessary.  No PT failures, quick result time.  From the POC perspective, I do not have issue with ABL90.

Hello everyone! We will soon implement the gem 7000 at our facility. I'm happy that people have had good experience with the gem7000. 

With the gem 5000, I have heard people complain about the GEM paks being have to be prematurely discarded for various reasons. I'm not sure if this is affecting the gem 7000. 

I was also wondering what is everyone's process for doing lot to lot shipment verification. 
Currently with the epoc, we do lot to lot verification by comparing the old and new lot, running QCs and linearity and 5 patient samples. I'm not sure with the GEM paks since everything is internal. What is everyone's process?