EBME Forums Forums Management Medical Equipment Management Managed v's In House Service

The main drawback with managed services, is when 'finance' choose the cheapest option especially when it goes to tender.
@Geoff, so I can say I have 'biomedded' around the world?

That's OK. That way they get what they pay for. And it serves them right, does it not?

Yes, the double-D looks better. So biomedding it is, then. As in pud, and pudding!

Now where is that dictunary, dikchunerry, ah dictionary, knew I would get it right in the end?

Does this assume that the third party provider will not be "in house" (or on site), 'cos this is not always the case.

We provide on site staff who are based at the hospital (and the workshop set-ups, equipment, etc) so long as the hospital (and hence the contract $) are big enough. For those who are not of sufficient size to require full time staff, then we would provide support on a number of days per week dependant on need (this includes provision of PM time obviously).

Do we have to run our business "lean", well yes of course. No room for carrying people in this environment, perform or get lost but that is what enables us to provide a service to our clients which is more economically viable than some of the various in-house groups that we compete with.

It is "dog eat dog" but that's what the private industry is like. If your department's work can be done at less cost than an outside contractor, with the same or better outcomes, then..... watch your back.

No, I make no assumptions. And yes, I am aware of all the possible "menu" options. Been there, done that, as they say.

But, for ease of terminology I would make a distinction between "in-house" (employees of the hospital) and "on-site" (contractors). If only to avoid endless explanations.

"My Way - or the Highway"!

PS: I think you need to revisit your last sentence.

There is the need for both as it is no good paying for training setting up test equipment, PPM lists and plans for say one item. Service contract it as you all know when it breaks the only guy trained on it will be lying on beach somewhere or scratching his head as he hasnt seen it since last year.

If it is a large amount of cash for the contract it has to weighed up against manpower, training, test equipment and spares availability.

Saying this a lot of companies now are giving the test equipment and training for free if you get in the deal at the start. Plus it saves them on techs as ther appears to be shortage again.


Apologies if this has all already been said.

Billy

If you change from 'in-house' to a contracted service say for 3 years, what happens to the 'in-house' staff. Also what would happen at the end of the 3 years if the managed service proved unsuccessful? Questions to ponder.

Looks like it's time to add what I always add ... there isn't a bottomless pit of handy techs just hanging around waiting to be hired. That and a reminder that good techs don't grow on trees.

In-house, or er, out-house there are only so many techs available. And I could tell stories of quite a few tech ventures that could not progress because "we couldn't find the blokes". And then (worse still) "couldn't keep the blokes"!

There is another model that I have seen (and been involved with) along the lines of what Billy is saying. This is where the in-house biomeds take care of first line (and first response), but the contractor comes in for periodic maintenance and any fault finding or repair work beyond the scope (and time frame) of the in-house guys. Second line service, if you like.

There are many ways to maintain all the various types of equipment found in hospitals, and (as I have said before) as long as everything is covered, it doesn't matter overly much which is used in each case. Just as long as the user is happy, the kit remains in good shape ... and the suits and bean counters are reasonably satisfied.

Why are you asking those questions, Neil? Surely you've had enough experience of all that (both the pros and the cons) out there in Saudi Arabia?

We have a small biomed dept but use external companys (normaly the supplier) frequently. The problem using contracts to replace biomed entirly is that they offer a level of service that is difficult to quantify with KPIs. Finding equipment, giving usfull and nuetral advice, explaining why somthing is not working, seeing the equipment in situ ect. I'm sure you could think of more.