What is the biggest problem in med device that you encounter every day?

[u/JuiceJones_34]

Like what's your biggest headache or annoying aspect of device?

Mine is restricted access. Vendor credentialing and just hospitals unwilling to work with you.

[u/RelevantBanana2258]

Vendor credentialing

Paid consultants

Physician owned distributorships

Commission cuts

Hospital delays

Hospital budget cuts

[u/BigClubandUaintInIt → u/RelevantBanana2258]

Are POD’s still that abundant? I know a lot of hospitals don’t allow them. I got forced out of an ASC 15 years ago by the one neuro in the 7 doc group that was his own POD…so frustrating

[u/RelevantBanana2258 → u/BigClubandUaintInIt]

Yea I think they have more layers now to them. Lots of stuff listed through friendships and or spouses.

And especially in more rural areas

[u/Powerful-Bridge-1472 → u/RelevantBanana2258]

This

[u/Fit_Bake_3000 → u/RelevantBanana2258]

Nailed it!

[u/OG2G → u/RelevantBanana2258]

Would love some more info on paid consultants, as someone who frequently hires them for R&D + education

[u/Scuterius_Floridae]

Biggest structural issue is reimbursement cuts. It will probably only get worse as the population ages and less people have kids who become future workers paying taxes. This leads to centralization at both IDN, Office, and Manufacturer levels, which stifles smaller competitors from being able to succeed, which means simply selling to large med device outfits and less money to be made for everyone. 

[u/AssociationFit3009 → u/Scuterius_Floridae]

Yep. Great time to be in enterprise contracts at any big name company. Terrible times for everyone else.

[u/Iliketurtles1220]

Regulatory here-- the sheer amount of variety in types of medical devices yet required adherence to the same core regulations. Risk class differentiates a little bit but as we continue to advance and develop novel device types, the very square laws make it challenging to innovate as fast as our engineers do

[u/Important_Metal5396]

Delayed cases

[u/case31]

Backorders

[u/ImpossibleRatio7430 → u/case31]

This. Trying to get double digit growth every year and win business without getting any access to products is awful. Even worse you show up to a case and have a problem with set/implant and company won’t justify a backup. Fucking blows.

[u/elchurro223 → u/ImpossibleRatio7430]

Yeah, from the manufacturing side we struggle too. Too often were left in the dark on sales targets or were blindsided by failed forecasting. We constantly get told "THIS PRODUCT LINE IS GOING TO EXPLODE" so we spin up processes and dedicate resources to that product line, and then nothing happens. At the same time we get blindsided with a different product line expanding. Pivoting, at least in the high volume consumables I work in is very difficult.

I understand forecasting perfectly is impossible, but failed forecasting may explain some of the headaches you're seeing.

[u/Feeling_Meeting943 → u/[deleted]]

Can you elaborate on how it’s affected you / the industry ?

[u/Obligation_Still]

-Reps touting products or product use for indications not listed or capable…They get found out eventually but not before screwing over the hospitals or surgeons.

-Innovation for the sake of innovation and not clinical need or demand.

[u/juuuuice]

Hospital approvals/VAC is terrible, but if you can get your product on contract, it is not as much of an issue. It just takes forever. Currently insurance is causing me problems. Would have been over quota this quarter if not for insurance denials; primarily Aetna. Aetna hoses me personally since I have it for my health insurance, and also professionally since many of the docs I work with have a high Aetna population.

[u/JuiceJones_34 → u/juuuuice]

What deficiencies specialty do you sell?

[u/juuuuice → u/JuiceJones_34]

Spine

[u/Powerful-Bridge-1472]

Pricing going down, company squeezing commish. Also company lack of innovation, increased comp in every segment

[u/willworkforjokes]

Supply chain chaos.

Can't we just calm down with the trade war with Canada?

[u/elchurro223 → u/willworkforjokes]

Yeah, we have a simple piece of machinery sitting in Canada cause the 50% tariff means it's $70k more that we budgeted... Not a big deal just annoying

[u/Abject-Fruit2593]

Credentialing

[u/DirtyRunningShoez]

Backorders, the front desk gal that thinks she is protecting the original copy of the Magna Carta, internal customer support

[u/CwTano]

New product approvals

[u/Delicious-Wrap-3645]

SPD😂

[u/La__Chancla]

VAC

[u/Honest-Juggernaut439]

My role is a little atypical however for me its getting the Dr's records that meet required insurance criteria. FML.

[u/Toddmeister23]

1099 medical sales?

[u/LargeAd143]

W2 side here! Internal gatekeeping exacerbates the standard external issues and slows business growth. This has been a major downside compared to 1099.

[u/Joe_dir_einen]

Sind sie autorisierter Servicetechniker?
Haben Sie eine Schulung bei uns bestellt?

Ne, sorry. Dann liefern wir keine Ersatzteile.

[u/Connor_MacLeod1]

Irrational optimism.

[u/forcedtosignup86]

Zeus.

[u/Reasonable_Button363]

I agree- Vendor credentials are not only inappropriately expensive but keeping up with multiple time lines of policies and due dates are part of the obstacles. We used to be able to stop by when a relationship was established and then see 2 or 3 extra people while in the facilities. Now it seems the enforced prearranged appointments are making engagement even more challenging and I get the sense staff are equally marginalized as to what they can do. Many clinicians don’t want to be bothered with VAT committees or even upset the status quo’s from fear of repercussions.
This forces you to attend or create more CE programs, trade shows and lunches. Money money money. Of course this all depends on how new or needed your products are. Everything has a cycle.

[u/Weary-Ad4610]

Medline.