This past year, www.medicaldesign.com asked for your input on questions covering healthcare reform, workforce reductions/increases, worker morale, R&D, lean and Six Sigma, industrial design, and most recently the process for gaining FDA approval of medical devices.

Now we will supplement the Reader Poll questions and results with Perspectives, which includes blogs by Medical Design Content Director Sherrie Conroy and me on industry news, issues and trends. Currently you can read our thoughts on MSC Minneapolis (March 22-23), politics and orthopedics, ACOs (accountable care organizations), and business expansions.

We believe the Reader Polls provide insight on what you, the readers of Medical Design and Medical Edge, are thinking. Meanwhile, we hope Perspectives will show you what we’re thinking.  

Here’s a look at what you told us this past year through our Reader Polls:
• Lean is clearly in.  When asked, “Is your company applying lean manufacturing tools and methods,” 78% of MedicalDesign.com poll participants answered yes; 21% said no.
• Industrial design is in and out.  A question about industrial design approaches yielded the following:  26% use inhouse industrial designers only; 15% use outside industrial designers; 38% use both; while 19% use none.
• Workplaces are tolerable. Would you recommend your company as an enjoyable place to work? 52% of poll respondent would; 42% would not.
• Healthcare reform good; device tax bad.  When asked, “Are you for or against healthcare reform?”, 44% of respondents answered yes; 36% said no; 18% don’t know.  When asked, “Are you for or against the medical device tax to help pay for healthcare reform,” 61% reported being against; 23% said they were for the measure; and 14% were undecided.
• Approval process really bad.  Of all the questions asked this year, the one that drew the most unified response was, “Does the time and money spent to gain US approvals hurt or help America in terms of having the latest medical technology available vs. the rest of the developed world? 75% of respondents said it hurts; only 15% said it helps; and 8% said it has no effect.

This month’s poll asks is asking you to indicate whether your company’s workforce will in 20110 increase, decrease or remain the same. Please let us know.

Finally, as we put the finishing touches on 2010, we thank you for your continued support and wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy 2011.