Preventive maintenance involves regularly servicing equipment that helps to keep it from failing,and is especially important in the medical field. Engineers use preventive maintenance every day,and it is especially valuable in the medical field.
In the following post,we will review the many reasons why maintenance is important for medical equipment.
It Generates Significant Financial Savings
In fact,hospitals spend more than $200 billion on medical devices each year. Some hospitals are purchasing new medical equipment. But in most cases,they are simply replacing older items that they have. But most of the time,they are just buying new items.
Medical supplies usually last around seven to ten years when used as designed. With proper care,it can last for many years.
It is much more costly to replace all medical equipment than to make repairs. Routinely replacing damaged components with refurbished ones can cut costs in the long run and save practices a small fortune.
It Improves Safety
Medical devices should perform to specification all year round. If equipment isn’t working properly,patients and staff may be put at risk.
People generally agree that medical equipment that has to be frequently serviced by a trained professional is safer than equipment that doesn’t have to be regularly serviced. If a problem occurs with a medical device,professional engineers will quickly find and fix it,so that the problem won’t become worse.
There have been a number of medical equipment and device failures. Medtronic’s MiniMed insulin pumps had to be recalled,as well as Edwards Lifesciences’ measuring devices,due to leaks in the power supplies that caused them to be disabled. Those who regularly scheduled preventive maintenance were able to quickly identify these risks; others had to wait until the problem was solved before providing treatment.
It Boosts Operational Efficiency
There are many reasons to believe that doing routine maintenance prevents equipment failure and increases operation efficiency. Most doctors in this country see 20 to 30 patients per day,or 7 to 8 thousand people every year. But if they knew when to schedule scheduled maintenance work on their equipment,they’d be able to see even more patients.
When equipment is properly maintained,doctors are able to access and use it more liberally. There’s less messing around with buttons or programming instruments. And the instruments that they use perform flawlessly right “out of the box”,providing superior service.If medical equipment doesn’t perform well,it can actually reduce productivity. When equipment doesn’t perform as it should,patients are forced to wait longer in waiting rooms,and physicians have to work harder to keep up with demand. Queues start to form in waiting rooms,doctors start to work too long to clear backlogs,and nurses start to work longer hours.
It is easy to schedule routine maintenance for your medical equipment. Companies such as Preventive Maintenance Medical Inc. (PM Medical) are easy to work with because they provide maintenance plans that meet the manufacturers’ standards and allow you to keep on top of your maintenance needs. If you need to contact them after hours,they’ll reach out to you. They know that out of regular maintenance,emergencies happen and that you may need a part replaced that day.
It Reduces Frustration
Regular maintenance of equipment prevents frustration and keeps medical staff happy. Deep down,medical staff are human,too Because just as any other person is annoyed with the fact that their equipment doesn’t work the way it should,medical professionals are also frustrated when their equipment doesn’t work properly. Trying to coax a broken ultrasound machine into producing a viable image is extremely annoying.
If you keep your medical equipment maintained,you will eliminate many of these issues. Medical staff are happier because equipment works just as it did on the day it was installed. To get more information about preventive maintenance for your medical equipment,visit PM Medical’s website today!