Eskenazi Health

Ryan Noyes

In the rapidly evolving landscape of healthcare technology, clinical engineering departments are embracing new and improved computerized maintenance management software (CMMS) to transform their operations and enable data-driven decisions. This innovative approach is revolutionizing routine maintenance, service requests, capital planning, and alternative equipment maintenance, leading to increased efficiency, cost savings, and enhanced patient care.

Traditionally, clinical engineering departments have been more reactive than proactive. While preventive maintenance is essential, it often falls short in preventing physical damage or component failures. This reactive approach leads to inefficiencies, delays, and rising costs. However, the adoption of advanced CMMS software is enabling healthcare facilities to harness the power of digitalization to optimize maintenance and repair processes.

Modern CMMS platforms empower clinical engineers to predict unexpected service requests by analyzing real-time data from previous repair work orders. Gone are the days of manually exporting data to Excel for analysis; these new CMMS systems offer real-time reporting on equipment inventory, maintenance history, and performance metrics, including the cost-to-service ratio, meantime between failures, and repeat work orders. With this comprehensive visibility into asset status and condition, clinical engineers can make informed decisions regarding routine maintenance, significantly reducing the risk of unexpected breakdowns and ensuring equipment is consistently in peak operating condition.

Capital planning for healthcare facilities is also greatly facilitated by present CMMS. Detailed reports and analytics generated by the software allow clinical engineers to identify patterns and trends in equipment performance, assisting them in determining the optimal time for equipment replacement or upgrades. While considering an asset type's 'useful life' is essential, data-driven capital investments enable hospitals and clinics to allocate resources more effectively, avoiding unnecessary expenditures and optimizing equipment lifespan.

Moreover, CMMS empowers clinical engineers to implement alternative equipment maintenance (AEM) strategies more effectively. Instead of solely relying on traditional OEM preventive maintenance, which involves routine checks and replacements regardless of equipment condition, added data in new software provide the tools to ensure AEM programs meet AAMI and CMS regulations. Leveraging data on equipment performance and usage patterns, engineers can employ condition-based maintenance, targeting specific assets that require attention based on their actual needs. This shift to a predictive maintenance model significantly reduces downtime, minimizes costs, and maximizes equipment lifespan.

"The future of clinical engineering is undoubtedly data-driven, and CMMS is at the forefront of this transformative shift"

In the quest for the future, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into clinical engineering software offers immense promise. By scanning previous repair work orders and analyzing the technician's notes and close code, AI has the potential to streamline repair times and provide dynamic solutions for the ever-changing landscape of medical devices. While other CMMS integrations already exist, there is still room for significant improvement.

Among the existing integrations, real-time location systems (RTLS) are common in hospitals but are not fully optimized to their potential. With modern CMMS, triggers can be implemented to alert technicians when RTLS-tagged equipment is pushed into equipment rooms, signaling that the device is available for maintenance. This ingenious application of RTLS in CMMS enhances efficiency, ensuring timely servicing of equipment and maximizing resources for better patient care.

The integration of new and improved CMMS into clinical engineering operations is a game-changer for healthcare technology. By leveraging data-driven decisions, hospitals and clinics optimize their maintenance processes, reduce costs, improve equipment reliability, and ultimately enhance patient care.

The adoption of new and improved CMMS in clinical engineering departments is expected to become increasingly widespread as more healthcare facilities recognize the immense value it brings. As the technology continues to evolve, we can anticipate even more sophisticated features and integrations that further empower clinical engineers, revolutionizing the way they manage medical equipment and ensuring a seamless healthcare experience for patients. The future of clinical engineering is undoubtedly data-driven, and CMMS is at the forefront of this transformative shift.