EBME Forums Forums Management Medical Equipment Management Medical equipment lifespan

ASHE? Who (what) is that, Mammad? Either way, ten years is as good an average guessimate as any! They're (whomever they may be) are not going to say 9.33 or 11 years, or something like that, are they?

ASHE stand for American Standard of Health. The things that we are practic right now was, when the breakdown downtime of one equipment is too long, our company will be get a deduction (such as demerit). So to avoid this to be happened, some of the old equipment we will proposed for BER and through it we can get a exemption. When our exemption is approved, wether the breakdown downtime is one year, our company salary cannot be deducted.

Yes, Mammad, I'm familiar with the concept of imposing financial penalties for equipment being "down". It was something practiced by our clients (government healthcare providers) when I worked for O&M contractors in Saudi Arabia. As a manager of technical services there, I became quite adept (even if I say so myself), in balancing (juggling?) the penalties (and I can guess you must know what I mean)!

Personally, I like that way of doing things, as it tends to keep everyone, shall we say, focused! In fact, it's a practice I would very much like to see introduced into the British National Health Service!

Yes, I see what you're saying about demonstrating that you've taken any necessary action. I used to deploy evidence that I had ordered spare parts (and, if these were unavailable), then provide "unable to quote" quotes from three vendors. If we can be of further help, just ask away!

I would agree with Geoff, the 10 year period that we usually set as replacement of the medical equipment has to do with the support companies give. Since they launch new models they stop the supply of spare parts to you, to force you in a way t buy the newer model. In some cases with a trade off price too.
Now as soon as you have spare parts yourself and you can keep up maintaining the equipment to the desired standards the limitation comes to your decision.

Welcome to the forum, Buddy. And thanks for agreeing with me (but you're right, of course)!

It's all about money, is it not? If the customer has the funding, and the newer model is in fact better than the one already in service (which is not always the case, in my experience), then it makes sense for you to support an argument for replacement (just as long as you, the contractor, don't stand to loose out in any way).

If, however, the customer has no new equipment budget, but instead enjoys attacking you (the contractor) for every penny he can squeeze out of you, then you had better have got your spare parts stock in place when you still could. Otherwise, you'll be on (what used to be called) "a hiding for nothing"! Believe me, guys, I speak from (bitter) experience!

This is what Mammad is asking about:- how to make a case (based upon universally accepted equipment life-spans) for getting rid of albatrosses which make him vulnerable to financial penalties (eg, due to them being out of order for long periods, and therefore unavailable to his customer). It's an interesting issue, and one that really concentrates the mind when you're involved!

Can i just ask about legislation? Where do you stand legally if you continue to use equipment over the manufacturers recommended maximum age?
Even if you have a full and comprehensive service history, and the equipment is looked after with TLC, if some thing goes wrong with it, how do you stand?

Which legislation do you have in mind, Quinny? Equipment manufacturers don't write the laws (as far as I'm aware)!

When you say "if something goes wrong with it", do you mean dropped, for example?

I meant to ask, what do you know of legislation, are there laws out there pertaining to equipment life span?
And when i say go wrong, i mean for eg a ventilator cutting out/breaking down while on a patient, you know some kind of internal electrical fault..
iI only ask because i have always had the presumption that there are laws surrounding this.

I'm certainly no lawyer (heaven forbid), but a couple of points come to mind:-

1) When someone purchases a product, and title passes to that person, it is up to that person to use that piece of kit as s/he sees fit (within the Laws of the Land, we hope). If they want to store it in a cupboard for thirty years, and then try to power it up and use it, that's up to them, I guess.

2) I hope that the presumption in English Law remains in place that you are deemed to be innocent until proven guilty!

3) We all have a duty of care (especially towards others - third parties, if you like).

4) Our prisons are already overflowing!

But, in answer to your question:- the way things are in the UK these days, Quinny, I can but reply with a shrug and say "who knows"?

The manufacturers are the people who make and sell the kit. The users are the people who use it. And people like us are there to provide local technical support (repairs and maintenance, etc.) during the in-service life of the equipment. Personally, I don't worry too much about what games the manufacturers might choose to play, or what influences they may bring to bear. I'm just a hands-on guy. When the user needs help, I respond. When the kit breaks (for whatever reason), I have a go at fixing it.

The bottom line? I wouldn't worry about it too much, Quinny.