10 Tips to Improve Equipment Utilization in Hospitals
Enhancing hospital efficiency, to Improve medical equipment utilization in hospitals is crucial for efficient operation, to enhance patient experience. Here are 10 tips to help you monitor and optimize it:
What is medical equipment utilisation ?
Understand medical equipment utilization to improve patient care. Analyze usage to make informed purchasing decisions and ensure your equipment is in demand
Implement a Centralized Tracking System:
- Real-time data: Use a system that provides real-time tracking of equipment locations and usage using Hospital CMMS
- Integration: Ensure the system integrates with other hospital management systems like EMRs and maintenance records.
Set Clear Usage Guidelines
- Standardized procedures: Establish clear guidelines for equipment usage, maintenance, and storage.
- Training: Provide training to staff on proper equipment usage and maintenance for hospital efficiency
Regularly Review Usage Data:
- Identify trends: Analyze usage data to identify trends and patterns.
- Optimize allocation: Use this information to optimize equipment allocation and scheduling
Schedule Preventative Maintenance
- Minimize downtime: Preventative maintenance can help minimize equipment downtime and optimize utilization.
- Planning: Plan preventive maintenance schedules to avoid peak usage times.
Track Equipment Downtime and maintenance failure
- Identify causes: Document reasons for equipment downtime to identify recurring issues.
- Improve maintenance: Use this data to improve maintenance practices and reduce downtime.
Consider Equipment Sharing
- Optimize resources: Explore opportunities for equipment sharing among departments or facilities.
- Cost-effective: Sharing can help reduce the need for purchasing additional equipment.
Utilize BLE Technology for hospital efficiency
- Real-time tracking: Use Bluetooth Low Energy based IoT solutions to track equipment location and movement in real time.
- Inventory management: This can improve spare parts inventory management and prevent equipment loss.
Monitor Equipment Condition and equipment shrinkage
- Regular inspections: Conduct regular inspections to assess equipment condition and identify potential issues.
- Preventive action: Address issues promptly to prevent equipment failure and downtime.
Implement a Tagging System to faulty tracking
- Clear identification: Use a clear tagging system to identify equipment and track its location.
- Easy management: This can simplify equipment management and reduce the risk of loss.
Involve Staff in Equipment Utilization Management
- Ownership: Encourage staff to take ownership of equipment utilization and report any issues or concerns.
- Collaboration: Collaborate with staff to develop strategies for improving equipment utilization.
By implementing these strategies, hospitals can improve equipment utilization, improve hospital efficiency, and reduce equipment maintenance costs.
Vikas ERP
Duleep Sahadevan, Founder and director at Software Associates Information Technologies. Brings over 2 decades of expertise in Healthcare and logistics ERP software solutions.
Done research papers on Return On Investment (IIMK 2008), Digital Self service (2014 Utrecht University), Design thinking (Utrecht 2022)