Phoenix or Meridian ???

My clinic uses Baxter Meridians currently we are checking out the Gambro Phoenix as a new choice and also the Baxter that has yet to be released or so I am told the fatina or something like that we will get that one in the next month or so.

Could anyone share any thoughts on the above mentioned machines?

I thank you in advance for any help.

Much Peace ...........

[babs_rn]

well at least with the phoenix you have the option with the Bicart - which is NICE, beats the jugs. Otherwise, they're both annoying. The Meridian has a habit of shutting off and you have to actually rinse the pt back and recirculate if the blood pump shuts off - I don't know WHO thought THAT up. Also there have been several lawsuits stemming from pt deaths on the Meridian. I haven't personally worked with the Phoenix but nobody I know who has, likes it.

Have fun ...lol

Barb

[obillyboy]

I was not overly pleased by the performance of the Phoenix, The Meridians are Ok but now next week or the following we will try the new Baxter machine "The Tina" or at least that is what everyone is calling it. We will have to se how it goes.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Billy

[GTS]

From the clinics I service, most have become more fond of the Phoenix as they have used them more. I know there were considerable problems when the Phoenix first came out, mainly due to software issues, most of which have been resolved, but they are getting much better. I am currently servicing 3 clinics using the Phoenix and have different views. One clinic was really standoffish during the training and seems to have nothing but problems. The other two, who were more attentive during training, are seeming to like them rather well. The hardest thing to do with the Phoenix is FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS!! If you try shortcuts or skipping steps, they WILL give problems. If you follow the directions, chances are, it will be good to you. They definitely take some getting used to. From a technician's standpoint, I'm still partial to the Fresenius H, mainly because it is familiar to me and is a proven unit. Given time... I'm hoping to learn to love the Phoenix more. :) I couldn't tell you anything about the Baxter's because I haven't worked with them. Good luck in what ever route you take!

[obillyboy]

I thank you so much for your insight. I think that the want to learn determines the curve.

Billy:cool:

[GTS]

Yes... it certainly does. :-) People fear change and often do what they can to prevent it. Lol. *guilty of it myself from time to time*

[babs_rn]

The TINA...won't those things EVER die? You have to go through, like, 6 screens to take a blood pressure, for heaven's sake. and you can't shut up the alarms at tx end even if you're rinsing back and done with the tx until you put it into rinse. There's no other way to let the thing know that you acknowledge the fact that the tx is over and you are addressing it. That alarm WILL NOT SILENCE. Althin used to make them, Baxter recently bought them out. They're ancient.

I understand the above mentioned partiality to the Fresenius H. I have worked with them but find the newer "K" models to be wonderfully user-friendly. Screens are easier to navigate and there are some nice touches as compared to the H, but it's all set up basically the same.

[obillyboy]

I guess that baxter has refined this machine, or at least this is the claim I will let you know how it does when we get them.

Thanks so much for your help Babs your insights are neat keep up the posts.

Billy:cool:

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

Originally posted by babs_rn

I understand the above mentioned partiality to the Fresenius H. I have worked with them but find the newer "K" models to be wonderfully user-friendly. Screens are easier to navigate and there are some nice touches as compared to the H, but it's all set up basically the same.

Being an FMC clinic, we naturally use the Fresenius machines... have not seen the "K" model yet, Babs... might have to check out the Fresenius website and take a look. Sounds exciting. We'll be getting a brand new clinic sometime next year (the State is coming through and widening the road where we are... our current location will be a "storm drainage pond".. yep.. our clinic will be submerged)... hee. So we building from scratch. YAY!

We NEEDED a new one, to be sure. But we'll be keeping our H model machines... but pretty much everything else will be brand new ! WOOOOOOOOT !!!

[babs_rn]

Originally posted by obillyboy

I guess that baxter has refined this machine, or at least this is the claim I will let you know how it does when we get them.

Thanks so much for your help Babs your insights are neat keep up the posts.

Billy:cool:

I can assure you that all Baxter has done is put their names on the machines where "Althin" used to be. Have worked with both in the same clinic. I do have the benefit of being a "floater" so I work with a lot of different machines.

[GTS]

The 'K's are good machines... they did have a few software problems when they first came out (e.g. if you hit a certain combination of buttons before treatment the uf would pull off DOUBLE) but most should be fixed by now. I don't know because I haven't worked with them in over a year. From a technical standpoint, they're almost IDENTICAL inside. But yes, they do have some new features that inspire more user confidence. I'd like to see Fresenius make something a little more... what's the word... attractive? But, I guess you can't go wrong with continuing the pursuit of perfection with an already proven machine. :)

[Gibbie]

Phoenix ALL the way!!