The Role of Medical Equipment Services in a Healthcare Environment

Healthcare professionals depend highly on medical equipment to diagnose and treat patients. Medical equipment must be reliable and able to provide accurate and timely results to support the crucial work that clinicians undertake.

This is where medical equipment services enter the picture. As with any type of equipment, medical devices require maintenance, repair and management to function at the highest standard possible. Equipment services ensure that devices are safe to use (for both patient and clinician) and provide uninterrupted, high-quality care.

Medical equipment management
Medical equipment management is an essential aspect of medical equipment services . A good medical equipment management system will harness structural, human, material, financial, and organisational resources to provide exceptional client assistance.

Managing medical equipment is a mandatory process for every healthcare organisation. For improved management, consider seeking the assistance of professionals who are experienced in managing operations, are able to improve safety measures and have well-developed knowledge of healthcare technologies.

Before consulting a medical equipment services and repair company, first check that the company provides the following five services:

1. Installation
2. Maintenance
3. Repair
4. Warranty
5. Replacement

Medical equipment: Installation The installation of medical equipment is a complex task with several simultaneous moving parts. Delivering equipment safely to its destination involves drawing up blueprints, guiding the delivery, mechanical installation and coordinating with subcontractors.

Beyond that, installation can also involve training employees in the correct use of equipment. Professional training will ensure that equipment is handled correctly and in a safe manner, reducing the risk of injury to personnel and patients and instrument downtime as a result of incorrect usage.

Medical equipment: Maintenance To ensure that specialist equipment is operating at an optimal capacity, a proactive maintenance program is required.

Maintenance has two main goals; to prolong the lifespan of equipment (reducing the likelihood that cumulative wear and tear will result in serious damage) and to avoid unscheduled breakdowns that can disrupt patient care. Medical equipment can be extremely expensive and a medical equipment repair company should work with you to safeguard the value of your asset.

Maintenance should be undertaken on a routine basis and at limited interference to the running of a healthcare environment.

Medical equipment: Repair No matter how well maintained equipment is, there is always the possibility of breakdown. Equipment repair is a critical element of medical equipment management and should be undertaken efficiently to reduce the likelihood of workplace disruption.

Be sure that your medical equipment services company provides rapid, on-site assistance in the case of equipment breakdown. Check that their service technicians are experienced and qualified and ensure, if possible, that they are only using original equipment manufacturer parts.

Medical equipment: Warranty Warranty is another vital aspect of equipment management, providing repair and replacement services where equipment is not up to standard. In general, there are three types of warranties that come with medical equipment:

1. Manufacturer’s warranty
● Provided by manufacturer
● For a fixed period
● No additional cost
● Non-negotiable.

2. Retailer’s warranty
● Provided by retailer
● For a fixed period
● No additional cost
● Non-negotiable.

3. Extended warranty
● In the form of a contract
● Length of warranty depends on the contract
● Additional cost
● Also known as the service contract.

Medical equipment: Replacement The development of medical equipment is an innovative field and new devices that improve patient care are released onto the market on a regular basis.

Medical equipment, too, tends to reach a certain point where it doesn’t work as efficiently due to compromised care, decreased reliability, changing regulations, increased operating costs and even safety issues.

Taking these factors into account, alongside the standard costs of medical equipment, replacement is a long-term factor of medical equipment management that should be planned and accounted for.

Medical equipment management has a direct impact on the level of patient care clinicians are able to provide. If you are striving to provide the best patient care possible, ensure that all the above mentioned medical equipment services are provided by your equipment supplier and check that their technicians are experienced, well trained and have a thorough understanding of the complexities of a healthcare environment.