With ECS, CMEPP eases the burden for overworked hospital staff
CMEPP is embarking on an ambitious program that promises to have a dramatic impact on the way hospitals manage their equipment maintenance and repair. The program is called the Equipment Coordination Service, or ECS, and helps address a critical resource challenge for some healthcare organizations.
“After years of research and hearing from our hospital Participant members, we knew they were in dire need of a program to help reduce their equipment maintenance burden,” says Nils Clausen, CMEPP’s CEO. “We soon realized we have the capability to do this. It’s exhilarating to have reached this day.”
Lack of consistent and dedicated processes
Some hospitals are challenged by a lack of clarity around defined roles for medical equipment management or they simply do not have staff resources to manage this function. This can create confusion and frustration when medical equipment malfunctions and needs repair.
Adding to the problem are limited communication protocols to inform key stakeholders about the status of equipment downtime and repair, and ETAs of uptime and equipment performing back to expectations.
For many hospitals, the main driver with ECS is the opportunity to shift the day-to-day management of equipment to CMEPP, allowing for a focus on patient care activities.
Giving hospitals better information about service repairs
When ECS is implemented, a dedicated CMEPP resource is assigned and available by email or phone to manage service events as they occur. The case is logged in a central case management system and from that point, CMEPP works with the Supplier to coordinate the repair and ensure the equipment is up and running as soon as possible.
“With ECS, CMEPP is the single point of contact with both the hospital and the Supplier to address and manage equipment downtime,” says TJ Jarvis, CMEPP’s Director, National Participant Accounts.
CMEPP has traditionally managed service reporting and coverage for hospitals, but ECS represents a gigantic leap since it’s using technology to ensure accurate and efficient tracking of service events. This is a streamlined process and from what CMEPP hears, a potential improvement to the current systems hospitals have in place.
“ECS is another strategy to fight back against the greatest challenge faced by all hospitals – lack of time,” says TJ. “ECS is going to give clarity and time back to staff so they can focus on what matters most: patient care.”
Another way ECS reduces the burden for hospital staff is by overseeing the scheduling and completion of Preventive Maintenance (PM) tasks.
“It helps keep trivial items at bay”
Last fall, CMEPP rolled out ECS as a pilot program at Quinte Health, one of its Participant members who’s expressed enthusiasm for the program. Tammy Robson, Medical Imaging Manager at Quinte, was positive about the program benefits from the beginning – “It helps keep some of the more trivial items at bay and allows my team leads to focus on patient care.”
“With the pilot, we’ve had a chance to work together through any issues,” said TJ. “We’re now in the process of marketing ECS more widely to our Participant population.”
If you’d like more information about implementing ECS at your hospital, please get in touch with TJ at tjarvis@cmepp.com.
