The weeklong recognition of the biomedical profession coincides with the re-establishment of NCCETA.

September 10–23, 2005, is Clinical Engineering and Biomedical Equipment Technology Week in Ohio thanks to Ronald D. Snodgrass (left) and Governor Bob Taft (right).

“As the newly appointed president of NCCETA, I felt a proclamation would serve as an important milestone in re-establishing the biomedical society, which had been inactive for several years,” Snodgrass said. “I felt this endorsement would help honor our organization and all the valuable hardworking biomedical professionals in our great state. I also wanted to join other successful biomedical societies that have established biomedical technology week proclamations from their respective state governments.”

The week, according to Snodgrass, will serve as a well-endorsed marketing tool for the profession, offering biomedical equipment technicians and clinical engineers the chance to advertise their skills and the value they bring to customers and health care employers.

In honor of the event, the NCCETA will hold a special meeting at DITEC Inc in Solon, Ohio.

A 20-year-old ultrasound specialty firm has changed its name. The name change for SonoDepot, formerly Florida Medical Consultants Inc, is the direct result of the company’s ongoing growth and expanding services, according to Floyd McAuliffe, president of SonoDepot. “Starting as a regional operation in 1985, we now cover the nation, offering system sales, repairs, service, and support—backed by our own team of certified specialists and an extensive parts and accessories inventory department,” McAuliffe said. “The new name and logo more clearly communicate our specialized commitment to the ultrasound community and our national reach.” For more information, visit www.sonodepot.com.

The new board members are:

• Eamonn V. Hoxey, PhD, senior director in Johnson & Johnson’s quality and compliance worldwide department;

• Nathaniel Sims, MD, director of the Smart Infusion Pump Learning Lab at Massachusetts General Hospital; and

• Steven J. Yelton, PE, AS, BSEE, chairman of Cincinnati State Technical and Community College’s biomedical equipment and information systems technology program.

PartsSource Hits Sales Milestone
On the heels of becoming a national parts distributor for Eastman Kodak Co’s (Rochester, NY) medical imaging equipment, PartsSource (Twinsburg, Ohio), a supplier of replacement medical parts for hospital equipment, reached its 100,000th part-request milestone.

Philips to Acquire Stentor
Royal Philips Electronics will acquire Stentor Inc, a provider of picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), for approximately $280 million in cash. Under the terms of the agreement, Stentor will be incorporated into the Healthcare IT business of Philips’ Medical Systems division. From its headquarters in Brisbane, Calif, Stentor will become the global headquarters of Philips’ overall PACS business.

Toshiba Declares Home Base for Showcasing Products
To expand its position in the US cardiology market, Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc (Tustin, Calif) has entered into a long-term partnership with Shands HealthCare of Florida to serve as the company’s national show site, highlighting the latest medical-imaging advances and offering regional physician-education programs.

The Field Service Practices certification program is targeted at organizations that deliver field technical support, traditional break/fix repair, and ongoing product-maintenance services. The Professional Service Practices certification program was designed for organizations that deliver proactive services, such as product implementations, system integration, and product or service consulting.

“These new programs close the loop in driving quality through the service train,” said John Hamilton, president of Service Strategies. “They join the Support Center Practices (SCP) certification program.” SCP certification quantifies the effectiveness of technology-support operations, establishes a foundation for optimizing business processes, and focuses on measurable results. For more information, visit www.servicestrategies.com.