When you took the job of being a hospital administrator, you probably thought that you would be mainly dealing with the staff. But your responsibilities extend to the equipment in your facilities, too. They go through much wear and tear daily and this can affect their performance.
There are things you can do to ensure that your high-tech hospital tools are in great condition. Here are some of them:
Set Up Preventative Maintenance
An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure applies to your equipment. It is a good idea to set up a maintenance schedule for them. This usually involves shutting them down and having an expert look them over. This helps detect any minor issues that need fixing and they can do some tune-ups.
This also involves some cleaning so expect your equipment looking and performing better than ever. As for the frequency of these checks, it is best to do it once a year. If you work the equipment hard, then you might have to drop that down to every few months.
Make sure that the expert you call in has the qualifications for the job. Besides that, have them make a report of the repairs and fixes that they made. Keep this in your records so that you can refer to them if any problem comes up.
Get Some Support From the Manufacturer
If something does go wrong, don’t forget who made the equipment. It is a good idea to take the problem to them, instead of doing repairs on your own. Most manufacturers have warranties that allow for free replacements and servicing. Besides that, if you are having trouble operating your equipment, then calling up their customer care hotline is much better than looking for solutions on the internet. This ensures you don’t do anything that would unintentionally ruin your equipment.
Have a Stock of Replacement Parts
Depending on the type of equipment that you are hoping to fix, replacement parts are sometimes necessary. But what if the DC custom cartridge heaters that your incubators use are out-of-stock? A delay may cost someone their life. This is why it is a good idea to stock up on replacement parts. Your repair team will then be able to fix your problems immediately, without searching among various suppliers. Maintain several pieces and pay attention when they become obsolete. This is usually a sign your equipment needs replacing.
Proper Training of Staff
Equipment breaks down faster if you don’t use it properly. For example, being too harsh on it when it doesn’t start quickly. Smacking it with your hand might potentially damage any piece of equipment, especially fragile ones. This makes the correct training of your staff on how to use them a priority. If possible, you will want the manufacturer to send a team to train your people. But that is sometimes not available so reading the manual thoroughly can be an adequate replacement.
Hospital equipment needs to be at its best so your patients get top-notch treatment and service. This makes proper equipment care one of your top priorities as a hospital administrator. The tips above should help make it easier for you. You can also expect savings from keeping the advice in mind since better maintenance means a longer service life and fewer breakdowns for the equipment.