Do you ever wonder about how hospitals keep their medical equipment in working order? These machines work 24/7 and need special care to stay in good order.

In the United States, over 80 million CT scans are done each year. A breakdown of medical equipment will result in high repair costs. Even worse, a patient may sue the hospital or clinic for damages.

This is why preventative medical equipment maintenance is essential. Keep reading to learn how to keep this vital equipment in top condition.

Scheduled Maintenance of Medical Equipment

Scheduled maintenance is the simplest form of servicing medical equipment. It involves regular inspection or replacement of parts per a plan. The service intervals are based on either time or usage.

Hospitals and medical centers use a variety of medical devices for patient care. Each of these devices has a different maintenance schedule. This is why it is important to hire skilled technicians. They will carry out maintenance as set out by manufacturers.

Basic services include regular cleaning and lubrication of parts. Complex maintenance includes taking a machine apart. For example, yearly stripping down of an anesthesia machine for inspection and calibration.

The biggest benefit of scheduled maintenance is that it’s easy to organize. Yet, it is not the best method for all equipment. Sometimes parts get replaced before it’s needed, or not soon enough.

Monitoring the Condition of Medical Equipment

Condition monitoring is an as-needed approach to maintenance. Visual inspection can pick up issues with some parts, such as dirty air filters. For many internal parts, sensors provide details on wear and tear.

This regular monitoring of equipment parts leads to cost-effective maintenance. For example, technicians replace an imaging machine’s brake assembly pads only when needed.

This maintenance service is carried out on-site. For significant damage, qualified technicians also offer bench services and repairs. These refurbishing services save hospitals money by extending the lifespan of medical equipment.

Predictive Maintenance of Medical Equipment

Predictive maintenance is the most detailed form of medical equipment maintenance. It uses data from condition monitoring to predict when certain parts need replacement. Unfortunately, this type of preventative maintenance is the most expensive.

Technicians use special sensors and software to track the condition of parts. Based on this, the software predicts the best time for services and part replacements.

The most common inputs come from vibration and infrared sensors. In this way, the software can decide when to replace an imaging machine’s bearings. Or it can pick up changes in the temperature of a device, indicating problems.

This type of maintenance can reduce unnecessary services and early parts replacements. But, since this method is costly, it’s mainly used for more expensive medical equipment.

Equipment Needs Maintenance Management

Regular preventative maintenance is important for extending the lifespan of medical equipment. Thus, a maintenance plan often includes a mix of maintenance types.

Some medical devices work best with scheduled maintenance as per manufacturer recommendations. For machines with more expensive replacement parts, predictive maintenance helps avoid unnecessary costs.

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