The investment required in medical devices is huge no matter what manufacturer's solutions you've chosen. So, implementing a strategic service and maintenance plan makes good sense. For instance, let's say you purchased a DSD Edge AER from Cantel. (previously Medivators). The Cantel Service and maintenance department Is probably the first solution that comes to mind. Third party service and maintenance offerings might be your second thought and MedService Repair is here to help you in that regard. But there's a third strategic option that you might be interested in as well called "training".

Have you considered staff service and maintenance training?

This option is not always considered by medical related companies as self-service of medical devices is not their core competency. But the benefits of on-site staff training can be huge. It just makes good business sense to understand the equipment one is using. The objective isn't necessarily to train your staff to handle any and all repairs and maintenance, but instead implement a hybrid solution where staff member(s) may have a better functional knowledge of the equipment you utilize to better understand and identify issues prior to those issues creating huge consequences for your medical practice. The combination of training and the manufacturer's support would seem to be the best solution.

Training your staff could result in the following benefits:

• Cost Savings | Some maintenance may be able to be done by staff who have a good working knowledge of the medical device(s) they've been trained on. We're not suggesting you fully rely upon internal staff for all service and maintenance as there will definitely will be situations that require and expert service technician. However, there could be substantial savings over time if your able to handle simple services and maintenance tasks that are easily done on-site.
  
  
• Downtime Reduced| Downtime can equate to one of the largest monetary losses when it comes to equipment issues. Minimizing downtime with the training of your staff could result in long term wins. And if downtime is successfully reduced then patients are not inconvenienced which will help with overall patient satisfaction and referrals further adding to your company's success.
  
  
• Equipment Optimization | Often medical devices, including endoscopes settings can be customized to better fit the specific needs or specialties your office focuses on. Without proper training, these customizations may never be taken advantage of or even known about. To get the most out of your medical devices training is in order.
  
  
• Office Efficiency | Your trained maintenance person or team member will, over time, become very knowledgeable about the medical devices you employ. This could lead to better and quicker diagnostics and troubleshooting of issues that may arise. And even if the issue requires an expert to repair, your trained staff member should know who to call and when. This trained staff member should also be able to discuss the issue intelligently with the manufacturer making the experience as painless as possible with reduced downtime while potentially saving on costs.
  
  
• Responsiveness | When an issue arises typically a call is made to the manufacturer and the waiting process begins. But trained internal staff or team members better understand your company's unique needs and may be able to act more quickly than outside support entities.
  
  
• Retaining Support Knowledge | New and improved medical devices are offered every year. And most companies don't replace their previously purchased models with the latest and greatest each year. With that being the case, by training your staff on your specific model that focused support knowledge stays within your company and remains the focus of your trained staff member(s). The manufacturer's support techs are forced to train and focus on the newest models each year instead of focusing on legacy equipment support knowledge. Having staff on hand that are solely focused on the equipment you actually use could benefit you greatly.
  
  
• Compliance Assignment | The warranty on medical devices and safety protocols often mandates specific maintenance procedures in a dictated and timely manner. Assigning those compliance responsibilities to a specifically trained employee or team in-house may ensure A) that the warranty stays in effect as the equipment is being properly maintained. And B) that any regulatory requirements, quality standards or compliance guidelines are being followed ensuring the safety of your patients and longevity of your medical device(s).
  
  
• Accountability | Typically In-house staff will understand the impact medical device issues may have better than any outside entity. So having trained staff specifically assigned to the responsibility of basic service and maintenance of specific medical devices your healthcare facility uses increases the overall accountability within your organization. You'll know who to talk to and should receive intelligent answers about issues that arise with that equipment.

How to set up Service and Maintenance Training

The hybrid solution of training select members of your team makes great business sense and clearly reduces risk for your medical practice in a multitude of ways. So how do you do it?

Most manufacturers offer training seminars and this is a great place to start. For instance, if you own a Cantel Advantage Plus, DSD Edge AER or DSD-201 AER they offer specific training classes for each of these devices. You can click this Cantel Service site link. (previously Medivators Service site) and view their service & maintenance training courses.

MedService Repair also offers "In-Service Training".
Call us today to find out more about how we can help you keep your medical equipment in the best shape possible.