Whether you are a buyer in the purchasing department of an individual hospital or part of an Integrated Delivery Network (IDN), you will likely want knowledgeable equipment specialists who understand the need for medical facility logistics and customized delivery requirements.
In this regard, the World Health Organization (WHO) offers some tips for IDNs that may assist you when making decisions about equipment and supplies deliveries that will not conflict with patient care scheduling.
Ordering, procurement estimating and calculating requirements
- A quantification process (referencing historical data about previous consumption) will help you prepare future estimates for equipment purchases and also allows you to allow for a annual best-case/worst-case budget scenario for possible equipment purchases.
- Define your equipment's location and storage space for spare parts and accessories.
- What is the anticipated lifespan of your equipment, based on normal use?
- Can you anticipate what additional equipment is needed and turnaround time on delivery in the event of a natural disaster, or epidemic?
- Find out if the equipment will be delivered with the necessary accessories and spare parts. If not, order at the same time.
Uninterruption of patient care treatments and care
- If you are transitioning from older to new equipment, make sure there is no "disconnect" in being able to utilize equipment without any down time during the delivery process. You may require assistance with asset tagging, moving your older equipment to another location, and turnkey delivery. Again, a seamless transition is a priority; your goal is to keep patient service and personnel operating comfortably and at maximum efficiency.
- During the planning stages, your team will likely coordinate each department's move-in to your new facility from the initialization of the move all the way through direct-to-site delivery. Consider professional equipment recommendations by knowledgeable, trained equipment specialists and report those recommendations to your end-users, requesting technical feedback. Examine the best temporary warehousing and storage options during the transition process and appoint several people to be in charge of staging; again, your end-users' input is valuable at every level of the decision-making process.
More than capital equipment delivery
Since medical facilities generally have policies and processes on equipment control and asset management, those policies must be reviewed and followed by any outside contractors and equipment service personnel you employ. Their knowledge and experience should be a primary consideration, as you consider an effective working relationship. Outside consultants can help you and your staff with technology assessment and equipment planning, while also assisting you with pre-delivery or onsite biomedical equipment inspection, if needed.
Delivery versatility is essential and should be timed to be at the slowest time of the day for your staff and clients. It's the "minor details" that make a huge difference in capital equipment delivery. For example, instead of disruptive uncrating of large equipment and the disarray that may occur with opening larger boxes at the equipment-use site, request your equipment delivery professionals do as much uncrating and assembly at their warehouse or in the delivery truck or van before taking the equipment into the patient area.
CME genuinely cares about superior customer service and has for over 34 years. We have provided customized service to work within our clients' capital equipment delivery times, locations, and budget requirements.
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.
