title: A methodology aimed to guarantee technology continuity in health structures.
abstract: In healthcare the importance of clinical continuity is essential for both patients life and health organization activity. Since technology continuity is having more and more importance for the service continuity, a correct management of medical devices must be guided by criteria that ensure its safe, appropriate and economical use through a well planned purchase, appropriate preventive and corrective maintenance Indeed, the aim of health technology managers is to optimize the integration of external interventions assistance and internal technical service to guarantee an efficient and cost-effective maintenance system. This paper proposes an innovative carefully thought methodology which is aimed to provide technological and procedural actions which offer support to decision makers in technology management regarding the implementation of continuity in medical services and response to technology failures and emergency events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, University of Florence, Via Santa Marta 3, 50039 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miniati
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dori
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Iadanza
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scatizzi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Niccolini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarti
mesh_terms: D020811:Biomedical Technology / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006268:Health Facilities; D007558:Italy; D017146:Models, Organizational