directly from the manufacturer to ensure the
equipment is working
in compliance with the
OEM standard. This
can provide an added
layer of confidence that
the repair was made
correctly and nearly
eliminates any need for
an immediate or subsequent “re-repair.”
Improved
Patient Care
As instrument repair
adds financial value to
hospitals, it also brings
value to their patients.
Hospital staff can focus
on their top priority, patient care, rather than whether or not the equip-
ment will perform. Also, patients may experience fewer delays in care
resulting from instruments being unavailable or broken.
Finding Value
As simple as it may sound, quality repair for the diversity of equipment a
hospital or surgery center uses throughout the course of the day cannot
be delivered by just anyone. In healthcare, equipment repairs can be made
to basic daily equipment like a waiting room chair, but in most cases, the
repairs are on instruments used for patient care – and in some cases may
even be critical in saving lives – and you want to make sure you have confidence in the qualifications of your provider.
For a hospital to maximize the value in instrument repair, it is important that they choose a provider that fits their needs. When making the
decision to add instrument repair to a hospital, decision makers should
look for a service that optimizes the life and value of their equipment.
Strategies for choosing a provider can be quite complex with a variety of
considerations, but below are a few tips to help determine the best fit.
• Evaluate: Start with evaluating your routine repair needs by determining how critical the equipment is to the care your facility provides and
how often repairs are needed. This will help you determine what level
of service matches your needs as repair providers range significantly in
level of certifications, skills, and accessibility.
• Availability: It’s hard to predict when a valuable piece of equipment will
go down, so it’s important to understand how long your provider will take
to fit it into their schedule. Providers that have trouble-shooting helplines
can also be a benefit in determining if there is a quick fix or if it needs a
more thorough, off-site repair. Unusable equipment is expensive, so accessibility to your service provider’s expertise is of the essence.
• Commitment to Uptime: Determine in advance if the provider offers on-
site support or if they can provide loaner instruments while yours is being
repaired. Similar value-added services can increase your facilities uptime.
• Equipment Care Education: Repair providers who are dedicated to
helping you maximize the life-cycle of your equipment can help identify
if there are any care practices that can be improved to help minimize
repairs. For example, some service providers can help you determine
if the instrument is being cleaned and stored properly to maximize its
lifespan.
• Highest Standards: Consider choosing a provider that has access to
OEM original parts and the tools specifically designed to repair that
equipment. Doing so can provide the hospital with confidence that
their instruments operate in the manner in which they were originally
designed and that the repair staff are trained to handle the instruments
according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This can increase safety
and confidence in the product, as simply replacing parts of a piece of
equipment with a generic part can affect the performance of the equipment and be riskier in procedures.
Hospitals are constantly striving to provide quality patient care, while
saving money. Utilizing instrument repairs gives them the opportunity
to capitalize on their equipment and maximize uptime. Deep down, who
delivers your repair service matters and a relationship with that provider
should be built on their accountability to service your repair needs at the
highest quality, in a timely fashion.
1.800.763.8423
www.polarproducts.com
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