Hi Geoff,
I believe this is the defenition most execs understand:
In the current NHS climate, trusts are continually looking for ways to reduce their financial exposure. Thus, the management services of a vendor-independent company such as Asteral have great appeal, particularly in the field of laboratory medicine.
Dealing with outdated and obsolete equipment? Handling hundreds of different tenders, contracts, leases and suppliers? Facing unpredictable funding requirements and poor budgeting? Do these issues sound familiar? Owing to the increasing pressures on the NHS, a new style of commercial partnership is emerging to ensure effective provision and management of equipment, reagents and consumables within pathology departments. Called managed equipment services (MES), this concept is a joined-up strategic approach to all elements of equipment management, procurement and maintenance. It helps NHS trusts to reduce equipment downtime and invest in the latest technology, which facilitates process re-engineering and redesign of diagnostic pathways.
Managed equipment service partnerships in the NHS have already been implemented successfully to cover radiology and ultrasound. Modern equipment can be guaranteed for the lifetime of the partnership for a regular fixed payment that includes all elements of the service. As a result, productivity is increased and financial savings are gained.
http://www.pathologyinpractice.com/Story.aspx?Story=417 BTW - I don't believe this is true in all cases.
