In healthcare establishments, the procedure rooms, like operating rooms (ORs), interventional radiology rooms, and cath lab rooms are among the most challenging spaces to support, largely due to the high volume of intricate and costly equipment they contain. Maintaining such complex equipment requires special attention, not only to ensure positive patient health outcomes but also to comply with the business expectations of the medical centers. Dominating this unique environment are clinical engineers and biomedical technicians, who ensure optimal functionality of these devices.
At the heart of managing these procedure spaces is patient safety. One important factor is the smooth collaboration between different team members – before, during, and after medical procedures. Such coordination is facilitated by devices like cameras, which allow remote monitoring and ensure the timely progression of healthcare procedures.
Leadership plays a significant role in shaping a medical institution’s operational practices. They determine how patients are attended, cared for and eventually discharged. Besides, they are responsible for planning the types of procedures performed and deciding on the corresponding equipment required. Factors such as capital equipment, training, and workflow planning are crucial in this context for ensuring the best patient outcomes. Clinical engineers can be instrumental in sourcing the right technology, assessing its compatibility with the institution, and ensuring robust support for the device once it’s procured.
One common pitfall, especially for ORs, is overlooking the total cost of ownership of expensive devices such as navigation systems, robotics, and intra-operative imaging. It is essential to consider possible repair costs, the expense of extended warranties, and other factors beyond the initial warranty phase.
To keep up with evolving technology, hospitals should develop capital equipment lifecycle plans that peek into the future, detecting the devices nearing their lifecycle’s end and requiring a replacement. This proactive approach can prevent unexpected device failures and ensure that the hospital remains current with medical equipment.
Regular meetings with OR leadership to discuss topics regarding equipment maintenance are key, as well as reviewing medical equipment service agreements that are due to lapse in the next quarter. This allows for adequate time to request renewal quotes, evaluate them, make adjustments, and complete the process before the term concludes.
Challenges include tracking the mean time between failures (MTBF) of medical equipment. Low MTBF might be an indicator of a broader problem. For instance, high breakage volumes of scopes could hint at incorrect usage techniques. Such a situation calls for user training to prevent further equipment damage. At times, equipment failure occurs during the cleaning and disinfection process, hinting that the sterilization team requires better equipment handling instructions.
Collaboration with other technical teams is also fundamental in maintaining tech support in delicate spaces like ORs. Empowering those already working in ORs with information to handle high-volume calls can serve to minimize service response delays and enhance customer satisfaction.
Finally, forming positive work relationships with staff at all levels helps improve communication, enabling the immediate and precise delivery of information. Right support in procedure spaces can ensure efficient operations, making workdays less daunting in ORs.
