Hello group, I am going to be doing a presentation on suggestions for a complete product evaluation.Â
I am asking if anyone has tools that they use that I may be able to share with the audience for the presentation, and I would really appreciate some feedback. What do you look for, how do you manage your evaluations, how are the results compiled and reported. How often to you evaluate products? What triggers you to evaluate a product?
In addition, I would love to hear from clinical specialists for companies or sales reps for companies who's product is often evaluated prior to purchase-what is your idea of a fair evaluation? of the perfect evaluation? Do you have tools that you share with your customers that I can share with the audience? What were some of your best and worst stories of evaluations?
Thanks in advance for your comments and thoughts!!
If you would prefer to email me directly, please contact me at [email protected]
Thanks!
Chris Cavanaugh, RN, BSN, CRNI, VA-BC
Please post to the list any tools so we all have access as this is a very important issue that affects us all.
I would like the info myself.
[email protected]
Hi Chris,
As a vendor representing a branded product, my ideal evaluation is one that researches all of the peer-reviewed, published and relevant evidence supporting the use of the product. Products that are not rigorously tested or are too new tend to be sold by convoluted means, such as anecdotal support, or by giving away volumes of free product. The unbiased and scientifically sound proof should be considered above all else. What's put in writing is monitored better these days, but representatives can still get away with saying just about anything. You want the claims in writing, and you want sources for those claims.
Additionally, vendor-sponsored studies with pre-determined dubious endpoints (we wanted to see if the nurses we employed into our study enjoyed using our product - and they did!) are nice for light reading, but they shouldn't considered as serious proofsources for justifying the use of a product.
Finally, and this may seem obvious considering the source - work with the vendor's clinical representative. She/he can be invaluable in terms of finding the best pricing, the right education, and can put you in touch with hospitals and IVT peers who have had experience using the product - folks you can have a candid discussion with, without that representative present, to hash out the reality of using the product; reality you could only get from your colleagues and not necessarily the person chartered with selling that product, or that product's competitor. As a vendor, I would expect a serious evaluator to expect no fewer than five references from similar institutions to your own.
The thorough investigation is the best kind. Though your evaluation to find the best, most cost-effective standard of care for your patients never ends, you don't want to have to do it all over again too soon when you find out you've made a mistake in haste.
Marcia Ryder PhD RN and I have recently developed a new Decision Model for Product Selection that she will be introducing at the upcoming INS conference. Be sure to attend her session in Phoenix.
Marilyn Hanchett RN
Marilyn,
Unfortunately, the AACN/NTI conference is the same week, so I will be attending that and not be able to attend the INS conference. Would you be willing to share your presentation or tools with me via email after the conference? I would really appreciate it, thank you. My email is [email protected]
Chris Cavanaugh, RN, BSN, CRNI, VA-BC
New tool in PDF format has been sent to your personal email. Please contact me directly at [email protected] if you do not receive it or if you have any questions about the content.
Marilyn Hanchett RN