Evaluating alternative service contracts for medical equipment.
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.
De Vivo
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L
Clinical Engineering Department, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, S. Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy.
Derrico
P
P
Tomaiuolo
D
D
Capussotto
C
C
Reali
A
A