On this episode I sit down with Al Moretti. Al has been one of our senior thought leaders holding down the biomed fray for decades and it was a pleasure talking shop with him beginning to end. Hope you enjoy the convo as I did!
Watch the video podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLisOVWzYA0rq9UrYCz7fU7HNBjXgwc8DG
On this episode I sit down with Al Moretti. Al has been one of our senior thought leaders holding down the biomed fray for decades and it was a pleasure talking shop with him beginning to end. Hope you enjoy the convo as I did!
Watch the video podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLisOVWzYA0rq9UrYCz7fU7HNBjXgwc8DG
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to an all new episode of the bearded biomed. I'm your host Chace and today I am joined by really somebody that's been in the field for so long, you got to give it up for him. Al Moretti, I want you to really, of course, we're going to talk about you know, his current company, we're Novo he's with but I really want to get into the meat and potatoes of what makes lol like he's been doing this so long. He has such a plethora of knowledge that he could share with us. And that's what we're here to tap into today. So Al welcome how you to thank you Jays are doing fabulous, man, appreciate this opportunity to chat with you here today. And really excited really, really looking forward to have a great fun conversation here. Yeah, it's been on the docket for a while. And we finally got our schedules to link up so it worked out perfectly. Ali was manning the dots connect eventually biomed find a will one way or another. That's right. That's right. So yeah, if you wouldn't mind, just tell us about you tell us about the career just what led you here to today.
Al Moretti:You know, that's a great a great preface. So, you know, like myself, myself, like so many others. I have to say, we fell into this industry initially by total accident. You know, I lean back and think back to when I was thinking about what I wanted to do post high school, undergraduate studies of whatever and just life and I spent about two years actually, after high school, just in the workforce, I at that time, just didn't really have a real desire to continue on with something because I wasn't sure and I wanted to make money. I couldn't wait like we all do. So I did that for two years. And I said, after two years, I think I gotta find a better way making money in the future, because this was not what I thought to be the future. So I enrolled myself into a trade school called the BRI, which is called the right University today, but back then it was called the, the right Institute of Technology. And this was back in the mid 80s, early, early 1980s, when technical schools trade schools were, were probably not as widespread as they are today through the junior college systems, today's much different environment back then it's, you either went to something more specialized, or you came out of the military, if you admit, you know, the military was a big training resource. And, and so I did, I did that and enrolled myself and went through the program and in completed the program and, and, and back in the early 80s, you know, driving I think employment thought for a lot of people that were in AI into this type of electronics, digital electronics, they call it that was to get into the communication world, because of microwave technology and Microwave Communications, Motorola was like the place you want to go work or or even some of these other, you know, organizations at a time in the communication world and, and, you know, satellite, the thought of satellites, you know, projecting, you know, globally was just, you know, really starting to dig in. So I pursued that never really got off the ground on it. Took a job, electronics technician job in a small motor controls factory in the Chicagoland area that made different type of products for mainly the oil, refinery, oil rig, type industries, I did that for about six, seven months and same time still looking for jobs. I saw my some of my classmates at the right we're now starting to get into healthcare. Starting to learn about healthcare, a couple got hired at GE somebody I think got hired at Siemens, and I happen to see back then when you look for a job, you know, you went to the local newspaper on Sundays. To write to that, yeah, that's how you found a job. You went to the Sunday newspaper and look for the job, the job section and be there'd be 30 pages, you know, and you'd go through it and so there was a job in there for a local hospital, silver Cross Hospital in Joliet, Illinois, and I applied it was for electronics technician role and got it got was successful it was was hired and that's what introduced me into what we call today. htm biomed. There they call it electronics in the early 80s But biomed Eve it was just not Even was not even the terminology as much back then. And so doing general medical equipment service maintenance, it's over cross and Joliet patient monitoring dialysis machines worked on the parking gate at the hospital that was part of the electronics department. So, you know, we worked on anything that had a plug in the wall that wasn't the electricians didn't want to touch. And I had the opportunity though there was a gentleman there, who was what we'll call him, the imaging engineer, that I think they call him radiographic engineer, but he was employed by the radiologists group that served the hospital and his job was to serve as the imaging equipment there all the radiology equipments, and he, he was needing another person to join him. And the opportunity presented itself I put my threw my hat out there, I think I was the only one to throw my ad out there. And, and he took me on so spent a couple of years under his under his guidance and leadership and learning about imaging and radiology and radiographic technology and, and I wanted more as time went on and went back to the job section again the newspaper and saw a advertisement there for a position up in the Chicagoland market at a university system called Whaley University Medical Center in Chicago, and they were hiring a radiology radiotherapy engineer, and I thought, Wow, that sounds impressive. And I applied for it and interviewed and there's a whole story there, I won't tie up this one on it, but I was the successful candidate and spent, like almost 24 years in the academic arena, working for the university with oversight to radiology, radiation oncology, all the other imaging related modalities. I was tasked by the university to create an imaging program their imaging engineering program, which I did. One time I had up to eight imaging engineers, and also I was assumed the responsibilities of the internal biomedical team they had their which comprised of about 17 bio meds. So went up, went up the career ladder within University and, and became Director of Clinical engineering for a number of years overseeing the program at the University and also had a joint appointment with the VA, the Veterans Administration System, which was adjacent to the campus of Loyola, I oversaw the ratio oncology program of equipments there, the VA system. So I spent a lot of years in the academic side, spent a little bit of time as I said, in the community health side, I also spend a lot of time in the governmental side with the Veterans Administration System. So I kind of like to say, I've seen the triangle of health care in our country today. And I've worked in all three and went into the private sector, after a number of years of working in the hospital sector in 2013, I joined up with Renova, who I'm with today, we are a an asset management, medical equipment htm company here in the United States. We've got a lot of growth and a lot of success in that story and that there but, you know, I'd say I want to kind of maybe just step back a little bit, I think what I really want to really put some strong spotlight do though, is throughout this entire journey that I spoke about, what was very important to me, and as always is it still will be into the future. That is the promotion development of this industry. Now we call healthcare technology management, htm. I've been privileged to be involved with numerous activities and organizations along the way. And one in particular, I want to put some, some some voice to is out was part of a team of visionary team, I want to say that said, hey, we need to create a grassroots state organization. And we did that starting in 2006. And thus became the clinical engineering association of Illinois, which is a volunteer organization of htm professionals. We are now going into our I think, 15/16 year, probably one of the largest htm associations in the country today. And so really, really proudly, really privileged to be part of so many things over this, this journey.
Chace Torres:Kudos for building that with our field being so nice So, in general, it's really good to have, for instance, your organization, your biomed. Society for to build that community. Yeah, not necessarily just for, you know, the the meetups and the functions, it's sharing of knowledge, the building, you know, an infrastructure for other bio meds to run to to fulfill whatever needs you might have, I would encourage most people to find, you know, within their state, if they're obviously I'm not sure if there's biomed societies in every all 50 states, but exactly, exactly. There is a benefit to having that. Typically, we will have individuals like yourself, you know, who have been in the field, and have been there done that, and just having access to tap into that knowledge source is it's insurmountable, you know, in its benefit. So, myself here in Dallas, Texas, David brought in hams, college area, he has his own biomed society. And, you know, I plan on working with them more in the future, since I've started this podcast. And me and David have become buddies, man, he's, he's got so much knowledge, and he's always just willing to help. That's what I appreciate. You know, for folks like yourself that have literally experienced every facet of the biomed world, it's gonna be disheartening and also allow some of us to step back and realize there's so much knowledge, so much experience that's going to, you know, leave our field within the next five to 10 years that I don't think people have really grasped yet. I mean, the people talking about a half. But the field in general, the holy cup seen, I think there's like somewhere between nine to 10,000 of us in the US, once you guys leave, we're going to have to go through the whole experience of relearning stuff again. And that's not the step that we need to take. So I would love your perspective on, you know, where do you see the industry heading within that five to 10 year span? In regards to I don't want to call you old?
Al Moretti:That's all good. I got a great view. Let's,
Chace Torres:let's call it the old guard. And,
Al Moretti:yeah, well, let's, let's call it just the, you know, let's call it just the, the, the generation time, I guess we'll call it that lack of a better word. You know, and, and I tell you, I love this theme. So and it's one it's been a passion of mine, you know, I've written I've published many times over the last decade, at least on the next generation of the next generation of htm professional, I was a it was a top that was a, that was the that was a subject line I had on a couple of presentations, I wrote a couple articles on them. And, you know, because this whole concept of, you know, what do we do when these people move on, and this has been being talked about forever locked? It will be it'll be it will be talked about forever? Because, you know, it's, it's, it's a constant, you know, I mean, it's a constant of everything evolves right. Now, I want to say something, though, too, you know, I'm really inspired. And I'm really excited about what I see going on today in htm. With the I'm gonna call the next generation who's come in, I'm inspired, because, you know, yes, there's great things and every generation, everybody's going to leave their, their, their mark, and everybody's going to, you know, leave the campsite a little better, maybe than they found it. That's the goal, right? As they say, you know, and so, you know, I want to say to the HTM professional today, you know, don't fear this Pete, these people leaving or moving on because that's, that's natural, and that's part of life. Actually, I'm inspired by that, because it brings in new blood, it brings in new ideas and new energy. And I'm seeing that already with so many things I follow and watch and the industry is going to be fabulous. Actually, the industry is getting some of my colleagues of mine era may may may disagree with me a little bit, but I think you know, what's going on today is, is rocking it even better than we did. Okay. And that's, that's that's the cool part because, you know, you're the, the the evolvement of the type of person coming in, you know, the, the, the IT background of people coming in the, the more the open even more open minded thinkers today, coming in and using all the tools at their discretion, you know, if it's media, social media, if it's YouTube, all this kind of stuff that's going on. That I just think is fabulous that I think the industry is there's not going to be a problem. It's going to continue to prosper and grow and, and hit Higher, higher levels. And yes, there's going to be the supply line of people, that is still that that challenge has been out there for 20 plus years. And it's still there today. And so, you know, I like the awareness now that's I see going on is that I see different associations out there, I see different people now beginning to get success in getting out to the high school levels and getting out to the junior college levels to inspire individuals that get into this this great industry of HDM. You know, I, you know, JC I'd say that, you know, I don't think there's going to be this this, you know, collapse that some may want to kind of put out there, oh, my God, these people are leaving, what are we going to do? Actually, quite frankly, maybe it's time to move a few people out of the way, and get some new people in front, okay, because that just drives new energy that I see nothing but upward trajectory myself,
Chace Torres:yeah, I, I will be first and foremost, to pay homage to all this, you know, the people that have laid the groundwork over all the decades that have really grown this industry as the pinnacle, it is the now's for the time to invest in, you know, the generation behind you, always here right now, is, you know, AMI is doing a lot of things to essentially create that pipeline of bringing in new HD EPS. And, and that's wondering, that's that's going hopefully, will be a component to address bringing in new blood into the field, because the field has to grow right to meet with the demand of the medical infrastructure system. But right now, we have people within my area, someone that has been in the field somewhere between 10 to 15 years, and, you know, is ready to take up that mantle. However, I hear I get messages all the time I hear from other colleagues across the US, and they either don't have the ability to make that move upward. Or either their facility, their ISO, manufacturer, or what have you, isn't necessarily giving them the tools or the ability to elevate themselves into that leadership role. Now, I've already had the pleasure of speaking with so many people that are even younger than me and are already hitting the ground running. And I guess, I'm always gonna say this, we just need to put the people that are I don't like you really use the word subordinate. But people that are under you possibly training to eventually take your place. And one of the biggest things I learned from the military was that as a leader, your job is not to be the best. Your job is to make the person better than you were, that's taking over for you. You a successful leader gives them the tools, the knowledge and imparts that so that way, they become even more effective, more efficient, it can eventually do your job with their eyes closed. I don't really see a lot of that in the field right now. I mean, I've, I'm sure you're familiar with just and better biomed. He's commented, we still have a lot of people in the industry that are still making all these decisions for outreach and everything to that effect. And they're the people that have been in the field as long or longer than yourself. And they're the ones making the decisions on how to reach out to kids. And he did bring up a good point, because I I subscribe to him I watch damn near all his videos, because he puts out a lot of good information. And it just made me think the other day when I was listening to it, he said, Oh, Amy is doing everything they can with PowerPoints and htm in a box. And this stuff is effective if if people utilize it. And I actually talked to Danielle and we actually went through people that are downloading the presentation. And there's actually a lot of people across the US that are utilizing htm in a box, which is fantastic. That makes me excited. I just I feel like we could do more as the industry tapping into the social media aspect. Because that's where the young population is. Justin has effectively and willingly so taken over YouTube for the biomed community and he does a fantastic job. He has built one hell of a community base there. I decided to take the podcast I see it Yeah. And it's gone very well. We have the biomed girl doing YouTube, we have HTML inside, we have tech nation podcast, we got 24/7 doing a podcast there, like people are starting to get into this, right. But there's so much more we could be doing. For instance, I even started a Tik Tok, where, you know, I'll do videos of some interesting repairs that I come across. And, you know, it gets people and she like, oh, okay, that makes sense. These are the people that handle stuff like this, I think the field is going to benefit more with us actually showcasing ourselves. And that's another interesting aspect of it to us, because I would argue that most bio meds are for the most part introverted, were people persons when we have to be dealing with customer relations, and you know, to that effect, but we're not really, I had to evolve myself, particularly doing a podcast, because it wasn't something I was ever comfortable doing. But I got comfortable with it. And as the industry evolves, I think in general, we just have to do a better job at Outreach and shining a light on ourselves, which sounds kind of weird, it's almost, you know, presuming that we're trying to make ourselves you know, the greatest, tapping ourselves on the shoulder kind of deal. Celebrating ourselves. And if you look at we just had htm week, yes. Isn't that what htm week is about? Celebrating what the HTM does? Well? Why can't we do that? You know, on YouTube, on Facebook, on ticks, on Instagram, on Twitter, there's so many different avenues that, you know, people that really care about this, these are the ways we need to go about it in the future.
Al Moretti:Well, you know, and that's why I'm inspired what you're just sharing, because everything you just touched on is 100% above what person I'm speaking to myself that I from, from, from a vision have just just just so taken with seeing it happen. Because, you know, the reach out, you're talking about through the media pieces, you know, I mean, you guys are hitting all cylinders. And, and let me tell you, it, all this stuff, I even think back to myself, you know, from 30, some years ago about just you know, where we were at then and where we're at today, you know, it takes time it does. And so even you know, it takes time, and then keep in keep the energy and, and channel the frustration piece to it, because the energy will overwhelm will will overtake you guys with all you're doing here. And that's why this podcast to me was was I was just honored to be part of is that these are the things that reach the population. Not only in the industry, but outside the industry. I mean, this is what's going to fuel our industry as people hearing these type of, you know, opportunities and see the insides you know, it's, I can't I can't put I can I can I can't even put so many words around it out. How pleasing is the see all what you just spoke about there, you guys are not gonna you know, Danielle and her team and Amy with each team in a box piece. It's just fabulous. You know, and I and again, you know, this the energy of people like Danielle and yourself and others that you spoke to speak to or want speak to, you know, are driving with this next level is be it's going to bring it is bringing the folks in will continue to drive new newness into it. You know, the other piece to it, and you touched on and I love it is that, you know, it's always been about awareness, you know, how do we bring awareness to this industry? How do we bring awareness to this profession? Now? I'm gonna say something that again, probably maybe some of my predecessors may be well, you know, gosh, but you know, I always said to biomed, Medical Equipment service person, the HTM professionals, we call them today, you got to get out of the basement and away from the morgue and up to the upper levels of the hospital. Okay, you got to get into the carpeted areas of the hospital, you got to be seen by the C suite you got to see be seen by the directors and the Clinical Directors, those people embrace this. They understand this profession need to what it does for them and patient care and to drive patient care and, and so the awareness piece is is what is the key component that you know, 30 years ago wasn't there in different eras, maybe one could say and maybe didn't have the vehicles available either right there. They're
Chace Torres:supposed to value something if you're not aware
Al Moretti:of it, absolutely. But they're there now. Okay. I mean, you you just social media pieces. And and that's what's that and then again, that's what's elevating this industry and you know, you I go back to my predecessors, they laid the foundation, which was fabulous at the time. I mean, we're in the infancy of medical equipment servicing which was so such a new concept. But you know, each generation is going to lay new foundations for the next generation, right. And then how you get that awareness out now is, is key and, and through all these vehicles like we're doing here today, and, and if it's writing or if it's press conference publishing, presenting, you know, I encourage all ECM professionals, you know, present, I'm a big proponent to, to, to Writing, Publishing and presenting, and I tell you, you know, there is, if I was to lean back and say, what are some of the attributes that, that I was, what's been an attribute to my career successes, it's been getting out in front of crowds and people and present in writing and, and, you know, the audience that gets created out of that, and the knowledge sharing piece, and I just I, I highly am a proponent, I say this to everybody I come in contact with, you know, there's so much knowledge that, that we all have shared out there, and, you know, the state organization that we see across the country today, and there's almost, I think there's got to be about 25, at least, or 30. htm state organizations today. Now, you know, those are the grassroots of this of this industry that, you know, that's where the grassroots of the local htm professional can plug into, you know, Amy has the national umbrella. Right. Okay. And that, you know, and they serve their role, and they serve the role well, national umbrella perspective, they're there, they're also now fueling the state organizations and supporting through those fuels. And, you know, right, they have
Chace Torres:the tools and the connections here, and they do great the apprenticeship program through the Department of Labor, oh, my gosh, you know, not necessarily something that a grassroots thing could do. So they serve a critical purpose.
Al Moretti:They do, they do. And so when you, when you combine both of these two together, which is what we're seeing now, is what we're seeing now, it's been developing ourselves, and it's really taking the traction, you know, it again, those are the outlets, those are the inlets I should say, for, you know, the, the local htm professional to plug into, and to be part of, you know, and so, you know, again, you I think, an earlier part of your theme, you know, what are we going to do, when all these gray hairs leave the organization, you know, and, you know, one, we should throw a party for some of them, right, I mean, you know, for absolutely, but on the other side of it, you know, we should all in, you know, again, let's let's, let's say throw a party in the sense of, you know, you know, take you know, you know, take the good efforts there that have been laid, and also the experiences, and enroll those enroll those in to the future, okay, they shouldn't be forgotten, they should not go, they should not go go into an abyss. But, but what I see clearly and I'm really inspired is the, is what I see what's going on with what we're doing here today, and I see and other avenues of media, the awareness piece is, to me is really just phenomenal. And in such a in such as a movement in our society today, we're, you know, all individuals, they're, they're looking for knowledge, they're seeking knowledge, you know, and how do they get the knowledge and, and, and where to go, and we just got to keep driving up to this industry. It's a great industry, it's a fantastic industry, and it's a purposeful industry. I mean, it's not just about patting yourself on the back, I want to, I want to say to is that, you know, the industry, the the, the HTM professional here touches patients, and their families in ways that they can't even imagine, they don't even see it most of the time, okay. You know, that, that, that service that repair or that, you know, predictive, whatever it may be, that they have put into their programs to, to enable equipment to have maximize uptime, I mean that, that residual out to the patient is what that is the purpose of htm is about taking care of patients and people and families and to hold out and that's, that is the goal, that is the goal, that that's what it's about. And, you know, I can't think you know, I mean, you know, all of the clinical, all the clinical professions that are driven towards patient care, you know, biomed, htm is a clinical professional in its own right, driving patient care and Dan and better patient outcomes as well. So, you know, I can't think of a better way to spend your time in your life's journey than here.
Chace Torres:I love the how you describe that, that we have a residual effect. Because for the most part, a lot of our work isn't seen unless it's a really critical failure that, you know, all hands on deck kind of deal. Which, you know, I think for the majority of us, we've probably had one or two instances. I mean, I've had an anesthesia repair while you know, a patient was hooked. That was really like When you get called to arms almost it's like, Okay, now it's time to really show what we're made of and do the job to make sure his patient gets through everything. Okay? Because at the end of the day, the whole field, its purpose is patient care, patient safety,
Al Moretti:oh, my gosh, I mean, you know, 80% of what we do is behind the scenes, right. But you know, but it's not unseen behind the scenes. I mean, you know, I want to I want to give a plug out there to my clinical colleagues, I mean, you know, I've had the privilege to work hand in hand with all levels of clinical, front end providers, surgeons, neurosurgeons, any type of ologists, who want to speak to, you know, what makes their ability to deliver patient care are all of the support networks behind that, including this one. And, you know, and I've seen, I have had the opportunity, you know, to see people being touched in the way of, you know, that, that, that diagnose that that ability for them to still get their diagnosis to continue on, or they're in, they're being treated for cancer, and their therapy to be continued on and equipment. You know, I mean, those are huge psychological situations for a patient, you know, you know, when they, when they get that news that, hey, you know, we can't see it today, because the equipment's down, or we can't get your treatment today, because the equipment's down, that has a that has a significant psychological impact on the patient, the family, all the way down, that is just reverberates. And you know, the HTM professional has a direct impact to to be the catalyst in improving that situation and making it to a positive versus something dropped troublesome. So, you know, I say to everybody, you know, don't think your work is not felt out there. It's hard sometimes to believe that. Because you know, but at the same breath, that's why you got into this field, because you wanted to help people, as I believe.
Chace Torres:Yeah, I would say, I think there was a statistic, and one of the demographics he did is that at least 70 to 75% of people would recommend this job to somebody. Yes, yeah, that's resounding that you know, our field as small as it is, so many people out of it would say, hands down, you want to be in this career? How many other careers could probably say that? I get told by my family all the time, like, how, how do you feel so comfortable doing a podcast about your career, aren't you tired? You know, I've, I've never really known anybody except you, who really enjoys what they do. It's, it's the career, it's the passion that comes along with, you know, wanting to do what we do every day. And, honestly, that's, that's what makes us special. It's, you know, you're making an impact, you know, you're doing something technical, that has a direct effect within the medical infrastructure that, you know, there's so many different facets to what we provide to the community. It's,
Al Moretti:it's, it is it is I again, you know, from a poor professions perspective, I mean, it's, it is, there's so many rewarding professions out there. I mean, you could, we could, we could have a whole podcast around, knows, but, you know, in this, this is, this is a rewarding profession for individuals, because they can see, you can see the outcomes of your of your efforts. What does it mean, and, but in the same sector, it's a melting pot, you know, we all we it's a high pressure, it is a very demanding pressure environment, when we're in a healthcare, healthcare today is is is probably, I mean, the the pressure cooker of all times right now,
Chace Torres:that's probably one component why I like it, too. Because I've always have a certain expectation to get something done during the day, there's a, like you said, there's, there's a pressure component to it. And, you know, some of us really thrive under that. So that's, that's what I like about my day is different every day that I have certain things I have to accomplish.
Al Moretti:You have to and, and I look at today's you know, how the hospital business is, how it functions today is much different than when I entered the industry. I mean, I always say, you know, when I came into this business, the money came in so quickly, you couldn't spend it fast enough. I mean, that goes back in an era where, and I mean by that is, you know, hospital could choose what insurance they wanted to accept and which ones they didn't want to accept. And today, they'll take everything including cash. I mean, they're not turning anybody at the doorway. reimbursements today, you know, when we went through as an industry, as a health care went through as an industry of what they call DRGs. And regulations of reimbursements, you know, used to be hospitals could set their own rates. I mean, you know, and that would that's that's obviously not The case any longer. So hospitals have have felt a significant downward pressure of reimbursements before a hospital, it was said, you know could be in the double digit profit margins today we see hospitals that are operating in
Chace Torres:zero. Margins are significantly smaller.
Al Moretti:They are they are in his driven so it's driven efficiencies. So So what is it that it's caused to drive efficiencies? It's called drive change. And that that's, you know, so a change comes pain and it comes, you know, comes comes sometimes uncomfortableness with some people of how do I adapt to it? You know, Eileen, Eileen and look to now you know, the install base at hospitals. I mean, I, when I think about before, you know, where you have, you know, four or five, or six, maybe CT scanners now, an organization will say, you know, looking at utilization studies, can we do the same throughput of patients with three scanners? Do we need to have the same install base quantities? Or can we do with lesser, make the asset, sweat, which is really what Lean principles and Lean management is all about. So that puts more pressure on the HTM professional now to to evolve their service delivery models and plans
Chace Torres:to be in lifecycle management app? Yeah. Yeah.
Al Moretti:I mean, predictive, proactive. Service, to me is probably the greatest attribute to any type of htm organization can put together is, how do you how do you enable through your service models to have zero downtime? I mean, you know, I mean, that now, again, that's the journey to zero will say, but, but how do you how do you, you know, how do you create that model so that you can do everything through preventative scheduled maintenance events, versus reactive events, right, and maximize uptime? That that's the that's That to me is one of the biggest differentiators today of you know, a successful htm organization to a struggling htm
Chace Torres:organization and somewhat subjective to because it's gonna be based on what your your Emmy MPs like or, you know, are you utilizing a implant? Are you just going by manufacture sink? It's
Al Moretti:absolutely, absolutely. Can you again, there's a lot. Yeah, so all this evolvement is so exciting, right? I mean, is it's really exciting. It's also, it's very, it's very unnerving for some people, because, you know, let's face it, there's some people say, Hey, I don't want change, right? You know, well, well, you're in the wrong industry, because this has been this industry for me, for I'm starting my 36, I'm in my 36th year now, I'm going to say it's been every year is a change, there's a new change coming out. So So if one can adapt to change, then the this industry will definitely trouble you to some extent. But these are great things. These are exciting
Chace Torres:things, right. And I want to carry it over to, you know, with the space of what it is today, you know, the biomed, the HTM department has to moreso you know, deal with accreditation regulators, you know, we have joint bearish and we have DNV Ach, C Do you know,
Al Moretti:whatever, eight state regulators or your state regulators dance,
Chace Torres:you know, that's that's a whole nother thing, because obviously, they're all competing against each other too. I've voiced some of my frustrations on the podcast before with, you know, you'll have one standard here. And then the other person says something completely different. And the same person that made that standard before someone else comes in, and it's completely different again, it's like
Al Moretti:a roomful of firms who write a contract, who gives it to him six months later, and they'll redline everything they agreed to six months brands.
Chace Torres:And, you know, I would imagine if anybody from Joint Commission, DMV, were to listen, they probably wouldn't be too happy with some of the things I say, just based on personal experience. You know, I think the the main things I had an episode titled A regular regulatory irregularities. Yeah. And people ate it up, because that is essentially what it is. I think what everybody wants is just a consistent thought out, you know, expectation of what we need to do, because at the end of the day, the biomed is going to do the work to make sure it's done. And, you know, obviously, to regulatory specifications.
Al Moretti:Well, there is there is a little bit of regular, there is a there is a regulatory there is a regulatory regularity, I want to say that and that CMS, you know, CMS is is the ultimate, you know, they are the, the the writer of now, of course Joint Commission DNV some of the other accrediting entities that fall under that their role is to carry out what CMS laid out, you know, at the as the cornerstones and against what, how much power with that too. Yeah, and now No, sometimes they get in that's where the twisting sometimes can come about after that. But, but But you know, it does start at CMS. You know, the Centers for Medicare, Medicare, Medicaid, you know, services, and how that's laid out. And they are the, the author will call that they're the author, and then the others have become the co authors. And
Chace Torres:I guess another point I'd like to, you know, really get your take on as well is, I'm sure it's been prevalent throughout your career, it's even more so with a lot of eyesight on it. Now, it's the right to repair movement. And, you know, I just recently, you know, PRG had an article put out, basically, they were able to kind of put a block on a certain bill that was going to go through that was going to essentially change the definition, the direction of what remanufacturing could regulate, which is a big deal, because, you know, we're already experiencing this within our medical facilities within, you know, our day to day jobs of the manufacturer, not even allowing us to have service literature in order to do calibrations or, you know, have access to parts, training. I mean, one of the biggest things, obviously, when you're doing negotiations for contracts is, you know, negotiation for training. And that's one aspect I do actually, to bring up renouveau real quick is, you know, y'all actually have some training set up, you know, that can, I would say, probably exceed what manufacturers are going to provide, because a lot of times, they'll give you special training that even their technicians aren't in themselves.
Al Moretti:You know, I guess to answer your question there, you know, Well, to answer your last question there,
Chace Torres:as much as long winded.
Al Moretti:I want to, I want to kind of, because there's a lot there, I want to really speak to because it's a it's a theme is perfect, you know, the training piece. So, you know, so we had renewable I mean, we, we will inservice Sure, internally, you know, but, but that's not a substitute by any means for for formalized training, that could either come from the manufacturer, or from a alternative training organization that that is, you know, truly focused their grading curriculum and that to support it. So, yes, we do we do in service, you know, staff, you know, for various, you know, tasks, processes, procedures to that, you know, does it exceed the manufacturer, I won't, I'm not, I don't want to even give that, I don't want to give that impression at all, you know, manufacturer training, I'm, I'm pro in the manufacturer training perspective, and that being is that I see, you know, I think we all are manufactured the equipment, they have, to me, they are the, they are the ultimate best at it. So, I've got all of the respect level there. And I've worked with OEMs, very, very successfully for, as I said, two or three decades, and I see that factor, you know, the right to repair piece, it's, it's an interesting piece that has, obviously the the energy around it. Now, it's taken a lot over the last several years, it kind of really throws back though to you know, guys decades back with 21 CFR and the registry there, and, you know, how people want to, you know, how that was interpreted and not interpreted? And it's caused so much frustration, which, you know, again, now we're in this right to repair theme that's out there today, I think, you know, where I see in my opinion, what what's going to turn the corner on right to repair in this industry of, of medical equipment is that the the non OEM so you know, if that's the if that's the ISO, or if it's the, the equipment owner, you know, staffed individuals, I think what's going to really turn the corner there is I want to say is, I hate to lean back to it, but it's going to be regulation. And, you know, my hope I'm hopeful and seeing the FDA put down a regulation to that which what that will do, in my opinion, it will bring the credibility, that's kind of probably the missing component here, if the FDA puts together a realistic regulation, for the non OEMs to have to be compliant with that will drive the OEM to then comply, or provisions of these items you just spoke about. Now,
Chace Torres:I want to say most people are asking for regular well,
Al Moretti:because that that will they are and they should because that's really the key here that's the real key is the FDA or the government stepping in and taking a firm stand here on this 21 CFR which was written decades ago by the government by the United States government, you know, still was very was written in really very great terms. And it was not interpret it's got to be much, much more clear and precise. But I think that that is going to drive you I point to ISO two Do I like what's going on? I'd like what's going on with the ice LPs? Because that's another step towards my company
Chace Torres:actually.
Al Moretti:Yeah, you know it, you have to, you have to, you have to, I'll use the term, you have to eliminate the weak links in the chain, right? Are the chains not gonna be strong. And so you know, accreditation, ISO accreditation certification, I look to the FDA, if they're going to be the driving force, which it looks like, looks like they're leaning, it looks like the government's leaning to the FDA to be that to be that voice here. But I see that as what's going to be the bigger term, the biggest turning here to right to repair in the sense of being able to get access to all of the theaters, the resource items, but it's also a responsibility the HTM industry to prepare to make sure they can deliver upon what the equivalency is, right the that the manufacturer provides a net, that's a topic that many people, they, they want, they look at that as thin ice, they try to skate around that and you got you can't skate around it, you either have to be equivalent, or you're not acquainted with it, there's not a great idea there.
Chace Torres:Because at the end of the day, the manufacturers, the politicians, the lobbyists, they have more voice, they have more power than we do.
Al Moretti:Well, they're also highly regulated. And they also have they have their skin is clearing the game through through regulation. They they're the one they're the only ones today that are held accountable, or GMP violations, good manufacturing practices, they they they can act, they can be shut down today. My by for not following now, an ISO today, quite frankly, can't be shut down by the government at all. I mean, they can't they can they could they can do whatever they wish, and unfortunately, I will say is that, you know, it's it's not it's not a level playing field there, you know that I think once that playing field gets leveled on both sides, all the resources that were that are being sought here, if it's getting, if it's getting access to training, if it's getting access to, you know, service materials, you know, for purchase, you know, for purchase, that stuff will will those doors will open because the government will require them in their requirements to the manufacturers to make it accessible to the market. And I think that that's where the turning that's what's that's that's, that is the ultimate we want to reach. That is the ultimate There we
Chace Torres:are. Yeah, unfortunately, it seems like we're still at a standstill, hopefully like said, it seems like what you said that it's going to more be put on the FDA
Al Moretti:because it is I agree, I think
Chace Torres:is probably the right route to go to begin with. It's got less Hanson's pie. And I mean, the FDA being the regulator to begin with for medical devices, why not?
Al Moretti:Well, it makes sense. I think it makes sense. And I think others feel there's a lot of others that feel the same way. And you know, I like to believe we're getting I like to believe that this this topic is getting closer to its finalization I was hoping it would have been there two years ago, I thought there I thought two years ago, it was I thought it was there. I thought it really did. And and it just seemed to just get pushed to the side burner. And again, there's many, many things out there and the government. You know, it takes us priorities at the moment. And so, so that's that piece there. So,
Chace Torres:I mean, we've had a plethora of topics today. I love to cap off the episode with one particular biomed story repair that something funny anecdote, anything you might have that you want to share with people.
Al Moretti:Okay, wow, that's a man I need to choose, right. There. Well, there's so many to choose. It's just I, I gotta kind of give that one just a little thought. But I think that you know, I guess if I think back and are just even in it, not only in, in previous years, but even in current years. You know, I guess I think more about sometimes communication, maybe that's it there. I mean, I'll link to that. One is that is that that they're funny, it's not that they they they lend a lot of you know, humor or frustration but you know, but I think about you know, the communications of how service call service requests come in from various the equipment owners to ourselves in the HTM profession, and I always have to lean back to the to the phone call that comes usually at four o'clock or 430 in the afternoon on a Thursday or Friday. And that's a a we got to have this fixed now. You know, it's got to be ready by Monday or it's got to be ready, you know, X and and you asked the question, you know, when did the problem start? Well, they started about a week ago. And so you know, it It's always been a knee jerk reaction. Well, then what's the emergency now? Okay, what? What drove it? Well, we couldn't, we didn't have time to get to you, we didn't have time to call you, you know, so. So I think about that. And I guess maybe if I don't know if that I really use that one as an example, I think that, you know, my, my recommendation is, you know, how do you? How does one in the HCM industry, you know, resolve those, I guess, I'm gonna lean back to is it that is going to be a constant out there, just like, you know, the other one, I'll say where, you know, we needed service. So I've been, I've been paged in Jason all day, and he hasn't returned my phone calls. And, and I think about that when I was at when I was managing much more into the tactical times. And I'd say, Well, how are you? How are you trained? Page? And they said, why was calling his personal page? I said, Well, you know, he's on vacation this week? Oh, well, that's why he's not calling me back. But but the call that I received that lead up to that was, as they were irate because nobody was fixing their equipment? Well, you know, we have standards and protocols replacing service events, it's called our dispatch center. So, you know, are those funny? Are they frustrating? I think they're all the above. But you know, I think the thing I'd like to leave here with is to everybody who's listening to, you know, the kind of the examples I gave is that I'm a big, I guess, I can't be a bigger proponent to the, to the art of rounding, you know, and I know, we all talk about rounding with our customers. But, you know, rounding is such a huge piece. And I think one of the most successful tools one can have, and rounding can be as simple as is sure, you know, going out and seeing the people it can be as easy as sometimes in today's virtual world, having pulse check calls with your with your customers. But the rounding pace is huge. I, I challenge anybody who's in HTML today, and in the future to Don't Don't, don't look past the rounding, it's an art, it will make, you know, it'll not only make your professional experiences with your customer, that much more fabulous, but it builds the camaraderie that, you know, to, you know, have great experiences and relationships with
Chace Torres:I fully agree. It's interesting, you say that, because David said that too. And I completely agree, because I feel like there is a human component to this is, you know, most of the time we deal with customers, you know, they're not in the best moods, but if you already have that rapport, that relationship built with them, it's going to smooth over easier, communication is going to be better. Expectations are going to be more normalized, things are just gonna go overwhelm leave more big better in the situation.
Al Moretti:David is spot on. You mentioned David earlier, and I was going to comment in I had made me think back, you know, one of our clinical engineering Association and lonely chapter meetings, probably, gosh, maybe 10 years ago or so we've we brought David in to be a guest speaker and on a topic and known Dave a long time over the over the years in industry and just, you know, just an icon for us. There's so much to be so much to be to be
Chace Torres:I mean, both you guys are
Al Moretti:so many of us. And you know, we're just privileged to be part of it. We really are. I mean, we're just, we're part of many people that come along. It's just, I just, I just love watching it now being now even part of it. But I love being a spectator to it with Well, thank you for letting me for some time today with you.
Chace Torres:Ellen, I really appreciate you being here, sir. Like I said, it's been a pleasure. It's been something that I've wanted to someone that I've wanted to get on the podcast for a long time. So again, thank you very much for being on the show. Give give the guys flowers. He's been doing this so long. I again, thank you very much. It's been an honor. At the end of the day, you know, we have to recognize our seniors and you know, let them know we appreciate everything you guys have done and that hey, we're ready to take up the mantle and continue on for the next generation.
Al Moretti:You guys got the torch well in hand so I look forward to seeing you all here and 22 Somewhere lifetime. wishing everybody a great, great day and be safe out there.
Chace Torres:And may the beard be with you because it
Al Moretti:is take care.