Why Preventative Maintenance Is Essential For Medical Equipment
Meta description: Maintenance of medical equipment is very important; it reduces costs, improves safety, and gives medics peace of mind.
Preventive maintenance consists of regular checks on equipment in order to prevent it from failing in the future. It is especially valuable in the medical field. Engineers use preventive maintenance every day, and it is especially valuable in the medical field.
In this post, we explore some of the reasons why preventative maintenance is essential for medical equipment.
It Generates Significant Financial Savings
In fact, hospitals spend more than $200 billion on medical devices each year. In some instances, they are buying new equipment. But in most cases, they are simply replacing older items.
Medical supplies usually last around seven to ten years if used regularly. 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 need to perform to specification all the time; they are used to protect patients and staff. 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 an issue occurs, engineers can find it quickly and fix it before it becomes a big problem.
Medical establishments have experienced numerous equipment and device failures in the past. Medtronic’s insulin pumps had to be recalled and Edwards Lifesciences monitors too, due to fluid leakages that occurred from power units. 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 why it would be advantageous to have regular preventive maintenance performed on medical equipment. Most doctors in this country see 20 to 30 patients per day, or 7 to 8 thousand people every year. If the right equipment maintenance schedule is in place, doctors could 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 they work right away, right “out of the box”, and they provide better service to patients than older devices.
When medical equipment doesn’t perform satisfactorily, it can actually lower productivity. Queues begin forming in waiting rooms, physicians can’t clear backlogs, and medics wind up working longer hours. Queues start to form in waiting rooms, doctors start to work too long to clear backlogs, and nurses start to work longer hours.
The good news is that fitting equipment maintenance into your schedule is easy. Companies like Preventive Maintenance Medical Inc. (PM Medical), sets you up on a preventive maintenance schedule that meets the manufacturer’s and industry requirements. 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. Staff members are just like anyone else: they are human. And just like anyone, it irritates them when medical equipment doesn’t work the way it should. Trying to coax a broken ultrasound machine into producing a viable image is extremely annoying.
By ensuring that your medical equipment is serviced regularly, you can avoid these problems entirely. It is as if equipment still works like it did the day it was originally purchased. For more information about how to prevent failures in your medical equipment, visit PM Medical’s website today!