Interview with: Anne Pattinson, Perioperative Care Modality Manager, Dräger Medical

Dräger Medical, A Dräger and Siemens Company, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of medical equipment. The Company offers products, services and integrated CareArea™ Solutions throughout the patient care process – from Emergency Care, Perioperative Care to Critical Care, Perinatal Care and Home Care.

Dräger Medical provides innovative solutions for the acute point of care which are the result of a clear focus on core competencies, a close dialog with customers, over a century of experience in the market, and continuous investment in R&D. The company’s goal is to help improve the quality of patient care while supporting care process efficiency in order to assist in healthcare cost savings.

APN: What does your new role of Modality Manager for Perioperative Care at Dräger Medical involve?
AP: My new role of Modality Manager for Perioperative Care at Dräger Medical is very challenging and at the same time really exciting. I have responsibility for the Perioperative Care products in the UK and Ireland. This means that I provide local marketing leadership for the Perioperative Care product portfolio – anaesthetic workstations, patient monitoring and data management systems. I develop the strategies for our solutions by analysing our markets, understanding our customer needs and matching our products appropriately.

I work very closely with my Dräger colleagues – Account Managers, Clinical Application Specialists and Technical Support to ensure that we meet and exceed customer expectations.

I also provide a link between our Business Unit in Lübeck, Germany and the UK/Ireland so that the issues facing our customers are fully understood and, therefore, future product developments address these issues.

APN: After an absence of almost three years what attracted you back to Dräger Medical?
AP: Following completion of my MBA, I felt ready for a challenging role such as this one at Dräger. Why Dräger? For me, it’s very important to work for a customer-focused company with high quality products and a great reputation. Dräger Medical has always been at the forefront of medical device technology research and development, and constantly paves the path along which our competitors follow.

APN: Do you have a history of working closely with anaesthetists or with other medical device companies?
AP: I have nearly 5 years experience as an Operating Department Practitioner, working in the NHS, Private sector and in an international role. I think this gives me a good understanding of the issues facing anaesthetists and the pressures of working in this environment. Working on “this side of the fence” means I am able to apply my understanding very accurately to ensure our “offering” is what our customers want and need.

In an increasingly integrated healthcare environment, the anaesthetist’s job is becoming more demanding. The interaction between the anaesthesia workplace and the rest of the healthcare environment is growing in complexity.

APN: What changes do you see occurring in the anaesthetics and healthcare industry over the next few years?
AP: We will see many more changes in this industry throughout the forthcoming years as indeed we have seen in the recent past – companies and suppliers merging, being acquired and so on – the result being that “complete solutions” are now being provided by only a few suppliers. I think this will increase.

The issues of improving care and efficiency will continue to be important. We need to help our customers maximise manpower to provide better care. Cost transparency will also become increasingly important.

I think there is a continuing drive to achieve the most effective anaesthetic versus the quickest patient recovery. This is an issue that Dräger is addressing directly with the Zeus anaesthetic workstation. The new DIVA vaporizers only provide the patient with the actual dose they need. In addition, TIVA is made easier with the integrated infusion pumps on the Zeus.

The move towards digital patient data will continue with integrated data management systems becoming more commonplace.

Finally, there is an interesting development - Barn Theatres - that will provide new challenges, as well as benefits, to the theatre discipline.

APN: What do you think your experience can do to advance the interests of Dräger Medical?
AP: I have over 10 years commercial experience and have been fortunate enough to work in various segments of the medical device industry in both UK and International markets. This broad experience enables me to bring a holistic approach to my new role. It allows me to look at the issues within the Perioperative Care area beyond those of just the equipment. This can only support and advance the Dräger Medical CareArea™ Solutions philosophy.

APN: And finally, how is Dräger Medical looking to expand in the future with you on board?
AP: Dräger Medical will continue to build on its CareArea™ Solutions philosophy by bringing all elements of the Perioperative Care portfolio together. This means one care area manager will be responsible for all anaesthesia workstations, patient monitoring, data management systems and operating lights.

We will also continue to look at ways of improving quality of care and increasing productivity. The next logical step is to develop further our Perioperative CareArea™ Solutions by looking at the surgical side of the OR. One example would be MIS systems.

For more information call Dräger Medical on 01442 213542, email us at marketing@draeger.co.uk or visit our website www.draeger-medical.co.uk