The simple question without too much fluff is; How do your departments track the passage and workflow of devices through your departments to maintain visibilty of that equipment at all stages?

Job cards? Tie-on tags? Peel-off "dots" of various colours?

I have seen T-cards in slots, and magnetic markers on boards. I have even seen chalkboards (why not?), and "Post-It" notes on pinboards. Some places use marker boards, and have someone available to update them. Another place I know of is going one step further and having a spreadsheet permanently displayed on a 42" screen for all to see and admire!

Obviously there are many ways of tracking jobs in the workshop. Personally I always advocate keeping things as simple as possible. I also like to keep the paperwork with the job (kit).

Presumably you already have the "basics" in place. Such as separating the "incoming" kit from the "awaiting spares" etc., etc.

Is there not a decent medical device management software out there that can keep all the hospital assets in a generic named database with a record of service history and a facility to plan and calenderise future services??

Welcome to the forum.

Actually, there are quite a few.

How many would you like?

Costs vary, but (if you have the time and the inclination) you could always do what you want with any database manager (eg, Access, FoxPro, SQL) ... or even an Excel spreadsheet!

In fact, if your budget is tending towards zero, and all you have to hand is an old DOS-based PC, it would be fun doing it with good old dBASE (which is available on line these days for nowt)!

Actually, the only "difficulty" there is the forward planning bit. But it can (and, indeed, has) been done.

Notice, however, that the original post was referring to the biomed department, or workshop.