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Tracking and managing assets can be challenging for any organization, but those in the healthcare industry face additional hurdles. Healthcare organizations must maintain oversight of up to thousands of assets at once, a feat that can only be accomplished with effective enterprise asset management (EAM) solutions. Using EAM software, healthcare organizations are more prepared than ever to integrate equipment management, reporting, performance monitoring, and other key functions. As a result, they can ensure that crucial medical equipment is always available when healthcare personnel need it to deliver patient care.

In addition to these advantages, EAM software offers a wide array of additional benefits. Whether it’s a general solution or one specifically designed for the industry, EAM software allows healthcare organizations to meet several key business goals.

Read on to explore seven of the ways that EAM can benefit healthcare organizations:

Compliance

Entities in the healthcare field must comply with a wide range of regulations and standards, including those for asset management. EAM software can give healthcare organizations the functionality and data they need to meet the requirements of agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and regulations like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

medicine

The Joint Commission (TJC) is another prominent regulatory body that provides asset management guidelines for healthcare organizations. These regulations focus specifically on medical equipment, requiring medical entities to report important data on inventory and upkeep activities. With EAM software, healthcare organizations are better positioned to meet these regulations.

Risk management

EAM systems also assist healthcare organizations with risk management by providing crucial data about asset performance. This is particularly important for facilities that operate high-risk machinery. In order to best manage this type of equipment, healthcare organizations can use EAM software to access key performance indicators (KPIs) and other metrics. With this functionality, they can oversee their assets in real time and pinpoint potential problems. As a result, they will be able to create a safer patient care environment while reducing their own equipment costs.

Asset registry

One of the most important functions of EAM solutions is asset tracking. These tools allow healthcare organizations to create an expansive digital registry of all their assets. With such an advanced organization system as EAM, organizations can move away from inefficient spreadsheet-based asset tracking methods of the past. Using a comprehensive asset registry enables healthcare entities to find information about maintenance processes, acquisitions, and the general history of each asset. In addition, asset registries can help automate the process of scheduling maintenance. Most importantly, however, asset registries provide healthcare organizations with a way to keep all of their asset information as current and secure as possible.

Mobile access

Some EAM solutions can extend accessibility to mobile devices, making it easier for staff to access the information that they need without having to return to a desktop computer or work station. These on-demand services enable patient care staff, managers, and equipment technicians to connect with the asset management platform on both mobile phones and tablets.

mobile access

Whether they are conducting an inventory review or moving between sites to document maintenance needs, staff can use these systems to complete their work at any time and from anywhere. Some EAM solutions feature offline capabilities that allow staff to document information while disconnected from the Internet and migrate the information later.

Cross-organization asset management

All healthcare facilities require the capability to manage their assets across multiple departments and facilities. EAM solutions can provide the functionality that these organizations need to track maintenance requests for heart monitors in the operating room while also fulfilling regular upkeep requirements on the air conditioning system, for example. When using EAM software, healthcare administrators also enjoy improved asset visibility and can therefore ensure that their staff is utilizing each asset to its fullest potential.

Equipment oversight

More than in any other industry, it is crucial that all healthcare equipment remain in top condition so that medical professionals can fulfill the most important aspect of their jobs—saving lives. From diagnostic imaging machinery to patient monitoring devices, these tools must always be available to the physicians, nurses, and other staff that use them.

EAM software plays a pivotal role in healthcare equipment management by enabling organizations to conduct preventive maintenance on the most vital assets, reducing the risk of equipment failure. Using EAM systems, healthcare organizations can also track the warranties and performance of their most critical assets to ensure the reliability of each.

Patient care

Ultimately, the most significant benefit of EAM is that it can help healthcare organizations improve the way they care for their patients. With improved reliability of medical equipment and other crucial assets across multiple sites, patient care facilities are able to reduce maintenance and other costs. As a result of these combined benefits, healthcare organizations are able to optimize care for their patients.