Many GTA hospitals have now adopted a variety of strategies in order to streamline equipment maintenance. A number of GTA hospitals now partner with other reputable medical equipment providers to assist with providing safe, quality care for patients. One example of this partnership is through Medical Bed Rental. This strategy can be helpful in assisting patients who may require additional reliable equipment upon discharge from the hospital.
Importance of Maintaining Equipment
It is very difficult to provide quality, safe and efficient patient care without well-maintained medical equipment. Through regular maintenance of medical equipment, GTA hospitals are able to:
- Provide safer patient care by minimizing the occurrence of equipment malfunctions.
- Comply with healthcare regulations.
- Maximize the useful life of expensive medical equipment.
- Save money on emergency repair costs.
- Decrease disruptions to patient care.
- Enhance the confidence level of personnel involved in maintaining medical equipment.
The relationship between maintenance of medical equipment and improved health outcomes, as well as enhanced value for hospitals, is evident.
Maintenance Techniques Used by GTA Hospitals
Preventative Maintenance Programs
In place of waiting until medical equipment fails, many GTA hospitals utilize Preventive Maintenance Schedules which incorporate:
- Regular Inspections
- Functional Testing
- Replacement of Components
- Updating Software
- Conducting Safety Checks
Through proactive maintenance, the number of unplanned failures decreases significantly.
Digital Asset Management
More and more hospitals are utilizing Digital Asset Management Systems to track the movement of medical equipment throughout various departments. Staff are able to utilize these systems to:
- Locate equipment
- Automatically schedule maintenance on the same device
- Document Service History
- View Warranty Information
- Prepare Reports related to compliance
By implementing tracking systems digitally, staff can become much more efficient in completing tasks; additionally there is a reduced risk of failing to complete maintenance.
Predictive Maintenance Technology
A small number of GTA hospitals are beginning to implement Predictive Maintenance through Data Analytics & Smart Sensors. The advantages include:
- Identifying wear prior to failure
- Eliminating unnecessary maintenance
- Lowering total maintenance cost
- Increasing availability of equipment
- Enabling better Resource Planning
Using Predictive Maintenance allows hospitals to focus on the equipment that is actually in need of maintenance.
Role of Medical Equipment Rental Providers
Many GTA hospitals form collaborative relationships with medical equipment rental companies to address fluctuating patient demands. They maintain all the rented equipment per rigid Quality Standards, thereby ensuring that each item is Cleaned, Inspected and Ready for Use.
When:
- Patient demand rapidly escalates.
- Equipment requires Servicing.
- Short-term Care Solutions are required.
- Patients require continued Recovery at Home.
- Specialized Equipment is required temporarily.
Adjustable Beds are one type of equipment that may berented as a hospital bed for a patient to improve Comfort, Mobility and Overall Recovery at Home.
Advantages of Streamlined Maintenance
Safe Patient Treatment
Properly maintained equipment greatly minimizes the possibility of Mechanical Failures that could jeopardize Patient Treatment.
Operational Efficiency
Staff in healthcare institutions spend far less time addressing problems associated with equipment and therefore spend more time treating patients.
Budgetary Cost Savings
Preventative Maintenance reduces Repair Costs and Lengthens the Useful Life of Medical Devices thus Reducing Replacement Costs.
Regulatory Compliance
Routine inspections assist healthcare organizations in meeting Health Accreditation and Safety Requirements.
Availability of Reliable Equipment
Reliable maintenance schedules assure that critical equipment is available when Patients require it.
Continued Challenges Faced by Hospitals
Although numerous advancements in technology have assisted hospitals in overcoming a variety of maintenance challenges, hospitals continue to face a few major challenges including:
- Inventory Management
- Economical Maintenance Costs
- Providing Training for Technicians
- Repair Coordination Across Multiple Departments
- Evolution of Regulations
Ongoing investment into systems of maintenance assists hospitals in addressing these ongoing challenges.
Practices Considered Best Practice for Effective Maintenance of Equipment
Several leading GTA hospitals have implemented a variety of best practices for effective maintenance of equipment:
- Establishment of Comprehensive Preventative Maintenance Schedules.
- Implementation of Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS).
- Technician training.
- Regular safety inspections.
- Documentation of Detailed Maintenance Records.
- Collaboration with Reputable Suppliers of Medical Equipment.
- Replacing Aging Medical Equipment Prior to Failure.
- Periodic Review of Maintenance Performance.
These practices contribute positively to the Reliability of Equipment used to treat Patients and also enhance Patient Satisfaction.
Home Healthcare Support
Due to the increasing emphasis on Home-Based Recovery, it is becoming increasingly important for patients to have access to dependable Medical Equipment during Recovery at Home. By forming close working relationships with Medical Equipment Rental Companies, Hospitals are able to provide Discharged Patients with the necessary Well-Maintained Equipment to safely recover outside the Hospital.
This Collaborative Approach enables Hospitals to decrease Readmission Rates and increase Patient Independence and Comfort.
