How can you educate on the importance of scheduled preventative maintenance? In this article Anand Dalvi answers the question based on his experience in the healthcare industry.
Anand has seventeen years of experience in the healthcare industry and is the Senior Service Manager at Advent International Limited in Ghana.
“As part of our commitment to patient safety and optimal equipment performance, we schedule preventive maintenance for our medical equipment in accordance with standard categories A, B and C. Specifically, Category A and B equipment, which are critical to saving patient lives, are maintained on a quarterly basis, while Category C equipment is maintained semi-annually (every 6 months).”

Preventative Maintenance and its importance for medical equipment now

What is Preventive Maintenance?

Preventive maintenance refers to the systematic and routine maintenance of medical equipment to prevent unexpected failures, reduce downtime, and ensure optimal performance.
The importance of preventive Maintenance in Medical Equipment as per the Standard A, B and C, Categories of Equipment has five key parts.

Patient Safety

Equipment meets safety standards. Well-maintained equipment minimises the risk of accidents, injuries, or even fatalities.

Equipment Reliability

Regular Preventive maintenance reduces the likelihood of equipment failure, ensuring uninterrupted patient care.

Cost Savings

PM helps prevent costly repairs, reduces repair costs, reduces downtime, and extends the lifespan of the equipment.

Compliance

Regular maintenance ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, industry standards, and manufacturer guidelines.

Quality of Care

Properly maintained equipment enables healthcare professionals to provide high-quality patient care.

Benefits of Implementing a Preventative Maintenance Programme

There are five key benefits to implementing a PM programme.

Reduced Equipment Downtime

By prioritising regular maintenance, healthcare organisations can minimise equipment downtime, ensuring that medical equipment is available when needed to provide quality patient care. Regular maintenance minimises unexpected failures.

Extended Equipment Lifespan

Regular maintenance, so that healthcare organisations can extend the lifespan of medical equipment, reduce costs, minimise waste, and ensure reliable performance. PM definitely helps prolong the lifespan of medical equipment.

Improved Equipment Performance

Regular maintenance includes tasks like calibration, cleaning, and software updates to ensure equipment performs at its best. Well-maintained equipment operates at optimal levels.

Enhanced Patient Satisfaction

Equipment maintenance, means that healthcare organisations can enhance patient satisfaction, leading to better health outcomes and increased loyalty. Reliable equipment and reduced downtime contribute to better patient outcomes.

Increased Efficiency

Automated maintenance scheduling and record-keeping minimise administrative tasks. Well-maintained equipment enables healthcare professionals to work more efficiently, see more patients and complete tasks faster. PM programmes help streamline maintenance processes, reducing administrative burdens.

Preventive maintenance (PM) is key and vital

Preventive maintenance (PM) is key and vital for four main reasons.

1. Reduces Equipment Failure
   PM helps identify potential issues before they become major problems.
2. Minimises Downtime
   Regular maintenance reduces unexpected equipment failures, ensuring minimal downtime.
3. Ensures Patient Safety
   Well-maintained equipment minimises the risk of accidents or injuries.
4. Optimises Equipment Performance
   PM ensures equipment operates at optimal levels.

Vital Benefits of scheduled preventative maintenance

There are four main benefits of scheduled preventative maintenance.

1. Cost Savings
   Preventive maintenance reduces costly repairs and extends equipment lifespan.
2. Compliance
   PM ensures compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards.
3. Improved Quality of Care
   Reliable equipment enables healthcare professionals to provide high-quality patient care.
4. Extended Equipment Lifespan
   Regular maintenance prolongs the lifespan of medical equipment.

Conclusion

By prioritising preventive maintenance, healthcare organisations can ensure their medical equipment operates safely, efficiently, and effectively, ultimately enhancing patient care.

About the author – Anand Dalvi

Anand Dalvi has worked as a Biomedical Engineer and Service Engineer and is now the Service Manager for Advent International Limited. He oversees the delivery of healthcare services and ensures the optimal maintenance of medical equipment and preventative maintenance within a large healthcare facility. With a deep understanding of the intricacies of healthcare delivery, he recognises the vital importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in achieving exceptional patient outcomes. Throughout his career, he has developed a unique blend of technical expertise and leadership acumen, enabling him to effectively bridge the gap between healthcare technology and patient care.
Anand is from India and currently based in Ghana.

You can read more about Anand’s career here:
How to become a Senior Biomedical Engineer