Internally developed medical equipment management system: a viable alternative.
A medical equipment management computer system, internally developed by Rhode Island Hospital, is presented. Hospital biomedical engineering departments must contend with ever-increasing regulatory requirements for patient-care equipment. Computerization is a viable solution to meeting the documentation standards dictated by healthcare governing bodies. Rhode Island Hospital's system consists of a Macintosh computer, Panorama database software, and Psion LZ64 Organiser handheld computer. Files were set up on equipment data, JCAHO-required historical documentation, service, inspections, part codes and locations, and vendor contact information. Technician inspection data recording time was reduced by approximately 30%.
Lafrenaye
R R
RR
Rhode Island Hospital, Providence.
Pezzullo
J C
JC
D001698:Biomedical Engineering / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003199:Computer Systems / Q000191:economics; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D005568:Forms and Records Control; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D008284:Maintenance and Engineering, Hospital / Q000379:methods*; D008331:Management Information Systems / Q000191:economics*; D008421:Materials Management, Hospital / Q000379:methods*; D012237:Rhode Island; D012985:Software Design