Electronic Health Reporter

Guest post by Lindsey Walker, marketing manager, NEXGEN Asset Management.

Running a healthcare facility is a herculean task even with the most experienced staff. Most studies on the state of healthcare industry decry the high cost of equipment maintenance and it is also the greatest challenge that every hospital administrator deals with. Breakdown of hospital equipment can lead to fatalities and this is why you need to leverage preventive maintenance software to avoid legal issues and costly repairs.

Computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) will help reduce hemorrhage of hospital revenues through unforeseen equipment breakdowns. This system is used to schedule preventive maintenance at the healthcare facility thus avoiding downtime of the machines. With this software, all of the hospital’s assets are tracked and monitored and all of this information is presented on one single dashboard. As the facility manager, you have instantaneous access to information about the condition of all the equipment. With such access to information the maintenance procedures are easier to execute, which saves the institution from financial loss and also improves the quality of patient care provided.

To appreciate why you should invest in such a maintenance system, consider the folowing benefits:

Improved Patient Care

The patients are the top priority in a healthcare facility and as such all efforts should be directed towards providing quality care. By adopting the CMMS software, you will have preventive measures in place in case of equipment failure. The health of patients is in your hands and situations such as power outages and equipment failure must be averted, as they can result in fatalities. You are able to come up with contingency plans in case of emergencies and the system also helps in case of evacuations. By providing for real-time communication between members of staff, this software improves the level of service offered at the facility.

Improved Asset and Inventory Management

A vast healthcare facility receives lots of supplies daily, and these are crucial in offering appropriate health services. Tracking all these supplies manually is very tricky and tedious, but with an automated system you can keep track of what is available and what needs to be replenished, quite easily. You can also monitor which departments are consuming more supplies and make relevant decisions based on such information. This system also helps you keep track of the equipment in the facility. If there are any due repairs, it is easier to alert the concerned parties to avoid downtime.

Risk Assessment

A hospital environment provides unique challenges and risk assessment is crucial to avoid accidents. The best maintenance management software also enables you to assess the potential risks in any project and equipment. By receiving such information beforehand, you are able to preempt any risks and avoid accidents. You can also carry out quality safety inspection to ensure every department is prepared for any unanticipated risks. 

Better Resource Management 

Running a hospital is a costly affair and most institutions are struggling under the weight of increased equipment and operation costs. By integrating web CMMS in your operations, you will increase efficiency, which in turn reduces wastage. Asset management software keeps the equipment in an optimal condition, which minimizes the cost of maintenance. Mobile CMMS helps in preventive maintenance and regular inspections, which extends the life of the equipment. This eventually results in an efficient workflow, thereby reducing the cost of running the facility, which is what every administrator wants.

Successful CMMS Implementation

Before rushing to implement the mobile CMMS, you need to start with the basics. This includes determining factors such as the appropriate work process flow as well as planning and scheduling all the aspects of operations. The CMMS must support all of these factors. The planning and scheduling system requires parts-inventory control to ensure that the parts are available as per the received orders. The way orders are received and handled must also be taken into consideration. It is important at the planning stage itself, to define roles on the CMMS system, before it goes live.

Conclusion

There is no denying the importance of a CMMS in a major healthcare facility. Preventive maintenance not only guarantees uninterrupted quality services but also cuts the cost of operations. By automating operations, the hospital is able to boost staff productivity, which in turn increases overall efficiency. This system also helps the facility to comply with the stringent regulatory guidelines of the healthcare sector.