Modern healthcare relies heavily on medical devices and equipment to diagnose, monitor, and treat patients. From imaging systems like MRI scanners to small handheld devices like pulse oximeters, medical technology plays a vital role in delivering quality patient care. However, this equipment can be extremely expensive to purchase and maintain. Facilities need specialized technicians to install, repair, and service these complex devices in order to keep them functioning properly. This is where companies like Auxo Medical can provide invaluable assistance through comprehensive equipment maintenance programs.
The Importance of Medical Equipment Maintenance
Medical devices and equipment require regular maintenance and periodic repairs to operate safely and effectively. Preventative maintenance involves scheduled inspections, testing, cleaning, calibration, and part replacements to keep equipment in proper working order. Without this routine upkeep, devices are prone to unexpected failures that can severely disrupt hospital and clinic operations. Downtime not only impacts productivity, but also revenue and patient care.
Proactive maintenance helps avoid emergency repairs and reduces overall lifecycle costs. Well-maintained equipment has higher resale value as well. Scheduled maintenance also provides the opportunity to detect minor issues before they become major problems. Technicians can identify upcoming repairs and order parts in advance rather than scrambling after a vital machine fails. Regular maintenance and timely repairs keep medical technology functioning optimally.
The Challenges of In-House Maintenance Programs
Many hospitals and large healthcare systems employ teams of in-house biomedical equipment technicians (BMETs) to service their inventory of high-tech medical devices. However, maintaining specialized clinical equipment requires extensive initial investments in tools, training, diagnostics software, parts inventories, and infrastructure. It can be difficult for smaller community hospitals and private practice clinics to develop and sustain comprehensive in-house programs.
Managing maintenance logs, coordinating repair workflows, tracking assets, staying current with manufacturer-recommended procedures, and maintaining technical competencies across numerous device modalities is enormously complex. Staff turnover can erase gained expertise. Budget constraints may prohibit investments needed to properly equip and train in-house teams.
The Benefits of Third-Party Medical Equipment Maintenance
Outsourcing maintenance services to an experienced third-party provider offers healthcare facilities a flexible, economical alternative to developing internal repair capabilities. Specialized medical equipment service companies have expertise across multiple major OEM brands and modalities. They invest heavily in the infrastructure, training, tools, diagnostic software access, and parts inventory needed to expertly maintain a wide variety of medical technology.
Third-party maintenance teams are also able to provide services on demand as needed. There is no need to salary full-time staff year-round when equipment servicing needs may fluctuate. Maintenance companies help healthcare facilities balance labor costs against equipment uptime. They offer customizable service plans and response times for both planned and emergency repairs.
Leveraging third-party maintenance services allows healthcare organizations to focus resources on core competencies like patient care rather than equipment upkeep. Medical facilities gain access to professional servicing discounted below OEM rates. They benefit from more competitive pricing, greater flexibility, and anytime access to specialized expertise.
Key Considerations for Choosing a Medical Equipment Service Provider
-
Expertise & Experience – Look for technicians accredited by organizations like the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). Review qualifications, brand-specific technical training, and modality expertise. Ask about experience servicing equipment models used in your facility.
-
Services Offered – Choose a provider that can service all equipment categories in use at your facility like imaging systems, sterilizers, anesthesia delivery machines, ventilators, electrosurgical units, and more. Look for services like preventative maintenance, corrective repairs, emergency service, parts sourcing, and equipment decommissioning/disposal.
-
Response Time – Ask about guaranteed response times for emergency repairs. Look for flexible service hours and rapid onsite response capabilities. Extended service coverage evenings and weekends is ideal.
-
Parts Availability – The provider should have ready access to manufacturer-approved replacement parts for all equipment brands they service, minimizing delays waiting for shipments.
-
Pricing – Compare service contract rates against OEM pricing. Look for economical, transparent pricing models like fixed-fee preventative maintenance plans rather than paying hourly only for costly emergency repairs.
-
References – Ask for references from existing clients. Contact them to inquire about service quality, response times, and technician expertise. Online reviews can offer further insight.
Choosing the right service partner ensures medical facilities have expert assistance keeping essential equipment operating at peak performance.
Realizing the Benefits of Professional Medical Equipment Maintenance
Auxo Medical is a trusted third-party medical equipment service provider with over 50 years of experience maintaining devices across the U.S. Their factory-trained, AAMI-certified biomedical technicians have deep expertise servicing anesthesia machines, electrosurgical units, sterilization equipment, ventilators, and more. Facilities can leverage Auxo’s capabilities for a variety of benefits:
Reduced Equipment Downtime
Regular maintenance vastly reduces the likelihood of unexpected equipment failure. Auxo Medical offers customized preventative maintenance plans that proactively address minor issues before they become major repairs. Their well-stocked parts inventory also allows technicians to quickly source needed components.
Improved Productivity & Patient Care Reliable equipment maximizes procedural workflow efficiency in ORs, labs, and imaging departments. Physicians can stay focused on delivering excellent patient care rather than working around malfunctioning technology.
Lower Lifecycle Costs Proactive maintenance extends the useful life of equipment by years, postponing costly replacements. Unscheduled emergency repairs also become far less frequent. Auxo’s fixed-fee plans provide predictable budgeting as well.
Regulatory & Accreditation Compliance Auxo’s meticulous documentation provides reports to demonstrate adherence to Joint Commission standards and OEM recommendations. This facilitates accreditation and helps limit liability risks.
Access to Specialized Expertise Auxo’s seasoned technicians maintain expertise across equipment modalities from anesthesia delivery systems to electrosurgical units, defibrillators, autoclaves, and more. Their competencies reduce clients’ training and recruitment burdens.
Brand-Agnostic Services Unlike OEMs focused on their own products, Auxo Medical services equipment from all major brands. Clients gain a customized, brand-agnostic approach for mixed-vendor environments.
Local Market Knowledge With technicians based locally, Auxo Medical provides specialized regional expertise and rapid response times for onsite repairs. Their convenient service minimizes downtime.
Auxo Medical supports the entire lifecycle of clients’ medical equipment with a comprehensive range of services:
Preventative Maintenance
Regular preventative maintenance is key to minimizing unplanned downtime and expensive emergency repairs. Auxo Medical offers customized maintenance plans administered by experienced, factory-certified technicians:
-
Scheduled maintenance appointments optimizations uptime
-
Multi-point inspections and calibration
-
Software and hardware troubleshooting
-
Fluid line purging, vacuum system testing, gas analyzer calibration
-
System cleaning, lubrication, filter replacement
-
Documentation for regulatory compliance
-
Parts replacements & proactive repairs
-
Scheduled maintenance optimizes uptime by proactively detecting potential problems through diagnostic tests, calibrations, visual inspections, and scheduled parts/filter replacements BEFORE performance issues arise. This helps avoid disruptive surprise failures during critical use.
Corrective Maintenance & Repairs
Despite preventative efforts, equipment problems inevitably arise. Auxo Medical’s technicians leverage decades of real-world experience to rapidly troubleshoot issues and perform corrective maintenance across equipment modalities:
-
Emergency repair – rapid onsite response 24/7
-
Electrical & mechanical troubleshooting
-
Software diagnostics and calibrations
-
Parts replacements with extensive inventory
-
Full documentation for compliance reporting
-
Repairs restore optimal performance and safety after failures occur. Auxo Medical has deep expertise isolating problems, sourcing parts, and safely restoring functionality across all supported equipment types.
Equipment Upgrades
Auxo Medical offers complete upgrade services to improve older equipment or add new capabilities:
-
Analog to digital upgrades
-
Adding networking capabilities
-
Integration of new software features
-
Touchscreen LCD conversions
-
Upgrading electrical/mechanical components
-
Revitalize outdated equipment and extend usefulness by upgrading older analog systems with new digital capabilities. Expert installations ensure changes are safe and restore devices to factory specifications.
Equipment Disposal & Decommissioning
When equipment reaches end-of-life, Auxo Medical manages decommissioning and disposal to high regulatory standards:
-
Data wiping to ensure protected health information (PHI) privacy
-
Testing for hazardous materials like lead shielding
-
Certificates of destruction to document proper disposal
-
Reselling/Remarketing functional equipment
-
Recycling components and raw materials through certified e-waste handlers
Safe, compliant disposal eliminates liabilities associated with outdated technology. Documentation provides the audit trail needed for accreditation and insurance purposes.
Parts, Supplies, and Accessories
Auxo Medical maintains a large stock of manufacturer-approved replacement parts and accessories for all equipment they service. This includes items like:
-
Maintenance kits with filters, valves, seals
-
Replacement bulbs
-
Backup batteries
-
Cords, tubing, cables, hoses
-
Gaskets, seals, tubing
-
And any other components needed to maintain optimal performance
Readily available parts inventory allows technicians to quickly complete repairs without relying on manufacturer backorders. Facility downtime is minimized.
Equipment Rentals
For facilities that cannot justify purchasing expensive equipment for limited usage, Auxo Medical offers short-term and month-to-month rentals on a diverse selection of meticulously maintained equipment. Lower costs and no long-term commitments provide healthcare organizations tremendous flexibility scaling equipment needs.
Why Choose Auxo Medical?
With decades of experience servicing clients across the U.S., Auxo Medical offers healthcare facilities unparalleled expertise maintaining the cutting edge medical technology clinicians rely on daily. They deliver:
Multi-Brand Expertise
Auxo Medical maintains extensive experience with equipment from the world’s top OEM medical technology brands including GE Healthcare, Philips, Siemens, Steris, Stryker, Olympus, Medtronic, and more. Their vendor-agnostic perspective provides efficient support across multi-OEM environments.
Factory-Trained and Certified Technicians
Technicians complete comprehensive OEM training courses on equipment installation, operation, maintenance, calibration, and repair. Auxo Medical’s Certified Biomedical Technicians (CBETs) hold the respected AAMI certifications demonstrating their expertise. Ongoing training ensures they stay current as technology evolves.
Rapid Response Capabilities
With techs based in local service regions, Auxo Medical provides rapid onsite response for emergency repairs and routine maintenance needs. Extended service hours nights and weekends prevent delayed care.
Custom Maintenance Programs
Auxo Medical works collaboratively with clients to develop optimized maintenance plans balancing uptime, performance, and budget. Contracts can be customized around equipment models in use and facility requirements.
Latest Diagnostic Software
Technicians are equipped with manufacturer-specific software tools for equipment testing, troubleshooting, error code analysis, system optimization, firmware updates, and more. This expertise facilitates rapid fault isolation and correction.
Extensive Parts Inventory
By stocking thousands of spare parts and components for all supported equipment brands, Auxo Medical minimizes downtime otherwise spent waiting on shipments from OEMs. Fast access to parts gets machines up and running quickly.
Budget-Friendly Costs
Auxo Medical’s services cost substantially less than OEM contracts. Their fixed-fee preventative maintenance programs eliminate unpredictable expenses from emergency repairs. Cost efficiencies enable improved equipment performance on limited budgets.
Liability Risk Reduction
Meticulous maintenance documentation aids regulatory compliance while demonstrating adherence to accreditation standards. This helps reduce scrutiny and liability risks during inspections and audits.
With multiple service centers nationally, Auxo Medical deploys experienced technicians from locations close to client sites. Local inventory, knowledge, and rapid response capabilities provide convenience and fast issue resolution.
Partnering for Peak Equipment Performance
Modern healthcare relies on complex, specialized medical equipment working flawlessly to deliver quality patient care. But managing a large inventory of essential technologies from diverse OEMs has enormous costs in training, tools, and technical competencies. Auxo Medical provides an expert alternative, handling equipment maintenance so healthcare facilities can focus fully on patient needs.
Offering flexible, customized service programs administered by factory-certified technicians, Auxo Medical helps clients:
-
Reduce expensive equipment downtime
-
Extend the lifespan of technology investments
-
Access specialized multi-vendor expertise
-
Keep lifesaving devices operating safely and reliably
-
Control maintenance costs through fixed-fee contracts
-
Reallocate limited budgets to patient care priorities
-
Ensure ongoing regulatory compliance
With over five decades of experience servicing clients nationally, Auxo Medical has the proven capabilities to keep modern healthcare facilities running at their best. Their comprehensive maintenance and repair services epitomize reliable, expert support for essential medical technology.
When to Call for Professional Service and Repairs
Even with thorough preventative maintenance, equipment issues inevitably arise requiring skilled technicians to troubleshoot problems and restore normal function. Auxo Medical recommends service in these situations:
Emergency Failures Disrupting Care
If a vital clinical device fails entirely or begins malfunctioning during use, immediate service is needed to avoid postponing urgent patient care. Auxo Medical’s emergency repair response can quickly dispatch experienced technicians for onsite troubleshooting and correction.
Error Messages and Fault Codes Appear
Internal diagnostics will often detect issues and generate alphanumeric error codes. Technicians can analyze these codes along with displayed messages to pinpoint failing components. Quick resolution of flagged problems prevents costly future failure.
Degraded Performance or Abnormal Operation
Subtle changes like inconsistent vacuum pressure, improper heating, slower cycle times, image artifacts, or power fluctuations indicate developing issues. Expert inspection can determine whether components need adjustment, repair, or replacement.
Scheduled Maintenance Intervals are Due
Auxo Medical will track maintenance schedules across all covered equipment to coordinate periodic upkeep per manufacturer recommendations. This prevents oversights that lead to breakdowns or invalidated warranties.
Staff Cannot Resolve Basic Issues
If in-house efforts to address things like jammed doors, leaking fluids, software glitches, or power problems are unsuccessful, it’s best to call service professionals before attempting extensive repairs.
Upgrades or Add-Ons are Desired
Specialized technical experience is required anytime facilities wish to incorporate hardware or software upgrades to improve equipment capabilities and lifespan. OEM integration ensures changes work properly.
New Equipment is Being Installed
Certified technicians should perform initial setup and calibration of new equipment to validate proper operation and help staff learn usage and basic maintenance.
Gear is Being Relocated or Removed
Professional decommissioning by qualified service agents ensures proper disconnections, data wiping for PHI protection, documentation, and regulated disposal when permanently removing equipment from service.
Audits or Inspections are Due
Comprehensive maintenance records prove compliance with healthcare technology management standards required by accreditation and regulatory groups. Auxo Medical’s detailed reporting satisfies inspectors.
By leveraging Auxo Medical for equipment service needs both scheduled and unplanned, healthcare facilities ensure issues are expertly resolved the right way the first time. Their skilled support maximizes clinical technology uptime and safety.
Key Takeaways
-
Modern healthcare relies heavily on medical equipment that requires specialized expertise to properly maintain and repair. Preventative maintenance is crucial for avoiding disruptive, unsafe downtime.
-
While large hospitals may staff in-house biomed departments, smaller providers often lack the cost-prohibitive infrastructure needed to service diverse high-tech equipment internally.
-
Outsourcing maintenance to dedicated third parties like Auxo Medical provides key benefits including:
-
Expert support across equipment modalities and brands
-
Access to extensive parts inventories
-
Budget-friendly fixed fee maintenance contracts
-
Reduced training and staffing overhead
-
Rapid response and broad coverage
-
Improved uptime and utilization
-
Aid with regulatory compliance
-
Auxo Medical offers healthcare providers over 50 years of medical equipment expertise across the entire asset lifecycle – from installation and training to maintenance, repair, upgrades and regulated disposal.
-
Customized maintenance programs administered by Auxo Medical’s factory-certified technicians ensures complex clinical technology is kept operating safely and reliably at peak condition.
-
By partnering with Auxo Medical for equipment servicing, healthcare facilities can focus fully on delivering outstanding patient care knowing their essential medical technology is in the hands of trusted professionals.
One of the best ways to avoid costly downtime is through scheduled preventative maintenance. At Auxo Medical, we offer custom PM plans equivalent or superior to manufacturer programs, but at a lower hourly repair rate.