title: Evaluating alternative service contracts for medical equipment.
abstract: Managing medical equipments is a formidable task that has to be pursued maximizing the benefits within a highly regulated and cost-constrained environment. Clinical engineers are uniquely equipped to determine which policies are the most efficacious and cost effective for a health care institution to ensure that medical devices meet appropriate standards of safety, quality and performance. Part of this support is a strategy for preventive and corrective maintenance. This paper describes an alternative scheme of OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) service contract for medical equipment that combines manufacturers' technical support and in-house maintenance. An efficient and efficacious organization can reduce the high cost of medical equipment maintenance while raising reliability and quality. Methodology and results are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Engineering Department, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, S. Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Vivo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Derrico
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tomaiuolo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Capussotto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reali