U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency, the medical materiel developer for the Army Medical Department, received the first Item Unique Identification marked medical equipment at the Medical Maintenance Operations Division Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The initial shipment of 50 electrosurgical apparatuses, manufactured by CONMED Corp, Denver, Colorado was received in October 2009. This electrosurgical apparatus will replace the fielded electrosurgical apparatus model which is no longer manufactured. Receiving the first IUID marked equipment, is a significant step for the AMEDD in complying with the DA IUID program goal of having all equipment marked with the IUID label. Since over 95% of the AMEDD equipment is commercial-off-the-shelf, the cooperation and buy-in from the equipment manufacturer is critical.

CONMED has been very proactive in applying the IUID. This will greatly enhance our ability to track the medical equipment and make it a win-win situation for USAMMA and the AMEDD. USAMMA has procured 230 electrosurgical apparatuses to be fielded to the combat support hospitals, forward surgical teams, and veterinary units throughout the Army.

Medical equipment technicians at MOD Hill Air Force Base below are conducting a thorough inspection of the electrosurgical apparatus prior to the fielding. Electrosugical apparatuses are use to cut and cauterize tissues using high frequency electrical current during surgical operations. It is critical equipment for the operating rooms. MOD Hill Air Force Base is one of the three depot level maintenance support facilities for the AMEDD. This is the AMEDD?s largest facility with approximately 30,000 medical equipment serviced annually.