Efficiency, Staff Retention & Saving Money: Think Medical Equipment

Current staffing shortages in healthcare have caused an increased spend on temporary help that has exploded budgets. In response, becoming more efficient and retaining and attracting staff are the primary focus for many, if not most, healthcare facilities in our post-pandemic world.

Choosing the right equipment can help with these goals. There are many products that not only increase efficiency by decreasing staff involvement but also make the clinical environment safer. In the long run, the right equipment can ultimately save money.

Consider these heavy hitters in the arena of efficiency and safety

Power Tables and Stretcher Chairs

Replacing manual tables with ADA height power tables can really increase efficiency and make healthcare workers’ lives easier. Manual tables often require healthcare workers to help patients get on and off the table which slows down the time between room turnovers. Additionally, healthcare workers have a higher probability of injury if they need to physically assist a person on or off that table. Overall, increasing the number of patients seen while decreasing the potential of workplace injuries can save healthcare systems money. There are many viable options in this space.

For many procedures in the healthcare setting, a patient may need a wheelchair or stretcher to transport them to the procedure or operating room, they will then be moved to a procedure table. After the procedure, the patient is returned to a stretcher for recovery. Each transfer increases the risk of injury to the staff, uses more staff, and generally slows the processes down. Using a multi-purpose stretcher chair can streamline the transportation and transfer process by cutting down on required staff, reducing the risk of workplace injuries, and increasing the number of procedures per day. Champion has great stretcher chair options available.

EMR Connected Devices

Checking patients into a healthcare facility involves weighing them, taking vital signs, maybe doing an EKG or other test. Traditionally, the healthcare worker checking them in will then have to manually enter some or all the data into the patient’s medical record. Today many of the tools used for patient check in can be connected directly to an EMR (Electronic Medical Record). Reducing or eliminating manual data entry makes a more efficient healthcare facility. And there are fewer transcription errors. Seca’s line of scales and Baxter’s line of Welch Allyn vital signs monitors and cardiology systems connect into most EMRs.

RTLS Workflow Solutions

Real-time locating systems (RTLS) can also help improve efficiency and workflows. Many think that RTLS is just about tracking equipment within a healthcare facility. And that is a good thing given caregivers spend 30 minutes each shift searching for equipment. But it also can track healthcare workers and patients. RTLS displays a bird’s-eye view of where everyone is located, at any time. Some RTLS, like Midmark’s CareFlow™, have wearable personal distress buttons available to alert responders when unpredictable situations occur. Again, these systems can increase efficiency and staff safety.

There are many more categories of products that can help with these two goals including ergonomic ultrasound tables, bed movers, portable stretcher scales, IT workstations, and carts.

While CME cannot help medical facilities hire new staff or retain current staff, we can help with choosing the best equipment. Our account managers are equipment specialists and will help find new and replacement equipment that can make the practitioners’ lives easier, reduce workplace injuries, and increase overall efficiency. Better medical equipment choices can certainly help make the work environment more efficient, safe, and agreeable to caregivers.

About CME: CME Corp is the nation’s premier source for healthcare equipment, turnkey logistics, and biomedical services, representing 2 million+ products from more than 2,000 manufacturers.

With two corporate offices and 35+ service centers, our mission is to help healthcare facilities nationwide reduce the cost of the equipment they purchase, make their equipment specification, delivery, installation, and maintenance processes more efficient, and help them seamlessly launch, renovate and expand on schedule.