Remember dot matrix printers? At one time they were the accepted standard for all things printed. Then they came out with Laser Printers. And when you saw it perform for the first time all you could say was…wow.
I bought that printer – at first sight. I wanted that kind of quality evidenced in every printed piece that represented – and reflected – my efforts for my clients.
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November marked the year-in-operation anniversary of our new Hartley Medical digs, and most importantly, our Clean Room. Particularly gratifying to me because, way back then, the decision to undertake so monumental an upgrade was not to be taken lightly. We took a risk – financially and professionally – and we have worked hard and we are, as a result, far ahead of the curve (and of where we projected to be by this time). Thankfully way ahead – and that is definitely cause for celebration!
The Old Hartley was 1700 sq. ft. with a 300 sq. ft clean room. Sparked by growth and demand and desire (the desire to achieve the pre-eminent level in clean room excellence), we searched for roughly 18 months and found the new home not far away (about 3 miles). The new facility? 7000 sq ft . The new clean room? 700 sq. ft.
Our clean room is divided in three: a gowning room, a prep room, a sterile preparation area. Apart from its size, the unique features of this tri-sectioned clean room (apart from it’s size) are its employed air management systems and its legitimately state-of-the-art filtration systems which remove both viable and non-viable particulates.
In our advanced filtration system, the air contained in the room recirculated, and then filtered again and again continuously to truly (and significantly) marginalize the chance of contamination – at a rate of 190 ACH (Air Changes per Hour). The industry standard is 30 ACH.
Easily 95% of our competitors don’t have this…don’t even come close to this. Most are afraid to incur the cost of such a facility, although they certainly recognize the need and advantage and salient benefits of having one. We take very seriously the technology needed to be put in a place to ensure an accurate and sterile compounded preparation. That’s why we made the leap in the first place. As a result, we’re not just “nosing out’ the competition, we’re three or four “laps” ahead.
It wasn’t easy. It was expensive. It did require serious sacrifice. But it was time. Mistakes in this industry are often measured in human misery…and no one wants to go there. I don’t want to go there.
In retrospect, one year later, it was the necessary thing to do – the right thing to do. In this business, the necessity for this level of commitment is very real.
It’s all about reinvesting in yourself . It all about quality assurance. Much is made by other companies about how much the competition put into R&D…but that is the kind of spurious posturing logic that has the dangerous effect of minimizing (and often ignoring) the necessity – the common sense priority – of ensuring the highest level commitment to accurate, sterile compound preparation.
I will always choose the laser printer…because that’s what it takes. Some are gravitating toward what I have done, but the majority either don’t care, or don’t have a clue. There is no regulatory pressure for them to do it. We did it anyway. All things according to The Hartley Standard. We have made the commitment to excellence and we are successful.