Equipment is an important component in AMR’s clinical excellence initiatives.  AMR has a systematic process for selecting clinical equipment that is managed by the National Equipment Evaluation Team (NEET).  NEET, a multidisciplinary team comprising professionals from AMR’s Clinical, Safety/Risk and Purchasing departments, evaluates equipment to meet new clinical and/or safety demands or to solve organizational problems.

NEET selects products for consideration based on input from departments throughout AMR, establishes evaluation criteria, conducts field trials, analyzes the data from field trials and makes equipment purchasing recommendations to AMR’s Purchasing Department. The team has led a number of important equipment evaluations at AMR including the following:

• Low-Friction Transfer Sheets – NEET completed a comprehensive review of low-friction transfer sheets (used to reduce the incidence of back injuries when transferring patients between beds). The review resulted in AMR’s purchase of new transfer sheets for operations across the country.


• Vascular Access Devices – NEET evaluated available adult IO devices. The review included a review of products, medical literature and laboratory and operational device use in the field.


• CPAP – After reviewing all available CPAP devices, the team initiated a field trial of three devices. Based on these trials, AMR operations have data to guide them in selecting CPAP devices that best meet their needs.


• Staff and Patient Safety – NEET initiated field studies on devices that help employees load oxygen supply tanks into ambulances efficiently and safely, and is testing a device that covers the buckle released on cot straps to prevent patients from unbuckling their safety straps during transport.