EBME Forums Forums Management Medical Equipment Management equipment management database

Hi All

our equipment database is old and obsolete so i have been tasked to replace with a web based system, can you let me know what you use and any comments. my manager is going to replace the estates database as well and wants estates and medical engineering on the same system so if anyone has this setup i would be grateful to hear from you.

regards

richard

Hi Richard
I would suggest you never consider RAM 4000 or 5000. They are terrible for customer support in the sense that they will often tell you first thing "you didnt want that function when it was installed" Should you wish to add an improvement, or a new function then they will charge for it-and its not cheap. The inventory side of it is problematic and cannot be linked to purchasing software. I used SoftPro Medusa in my previous Trust. It was a good system until you set it up to control the engineer with targets in the sense of time limits. We are currently looking for a new asset management system ourselves and are looking at F2. Will let you know how we get on with our final choice. Good luck. I will add this, check with the providers on how you go about adding future data/functions and how much it will cost. Also think about the incoming GS1 standards and RFID.

What system have you been using up till now, Richard? And what makes it considered "obsolete", I wonder?

And ... is it costing you anything?

Myself, I would not recommend either "web-based" or "integrated with Estates".

Firstly, you need to be in full control of your data; and secondly an Estates-based system will only be a compromise (at best) in terms of what biomedical engineering needs.

Bottom line is:- forget (expensive) gee-whiz and instead favour solid reliability (not to mention security of data).

And lastly - if you simply must go through the process - at least sit down at this stage and list your requirements that a new system must meet. No doubt your list and the Estates list (if they have one) will differ to some degree (or probably many); but there's obviously little point in going through the pain unless you end up getting something better as a result. There have already been many cases (some documented on this forum) where biomed departments (having spent £££ thousands) have ended up with something worse than they had before.

Hi Dustcap please keep me informed on what sysytem you go for. i went to a demo on the GS1 standards and it looks like it is going to be a mare to set up and run, but because it is mandatory i think we will impliment if the money is available but as most NHS trusts we are in the red. i like the rfid idea because it will save time and money looking for equipment but i am sceptical on the so called savings being thrown about ie 25% of nurse time spent looking for equipment i don't think so lol

Geoff

we have a system based on access which was designed by my old boss which is no longer supported and cannot be updated.i agree that we need our own system but my boss is head of estates and medical engineering and he won't listen to reason so a joint system is my only choice.

GS1 ...? Yet another "unique" field to add to all the others in the database?

Isn't (wasn't) GS1 to do with barcodes in supermarkets?

Anyway, good luck with your venture, Richard.

I "feel your pain" about Estates calling the shots. Like many, I suspect, I have "been there, done that" (although in my own case I voted* with my feet).

That "unsupported database" situation is another that pops up from time to time - usually after Good Old Boys retire [pity that he used Access, though, in my opinon]. But don't you have the source code, then?

Lastly (for now at least), if I were you I would retain a "back-up" system of your data (even if it's only in Excel) - set against the day when the new system collapses in chaos, and (or) the Estates Manager leaves you in peace for green fields anew.

* And yes, it all turned to **** after I'd left.

Hi Richard
Here at the Homerton we use E-Quip from Interga. The users love it. and is so versitile in its applications. Support is second to none, and best part its a lot cheaper than other on the market place.
http://www.e-quip.uk.net/

Regards

Brian

Yes Brian, their stuff is good; but does it "do" Estates?

it does what you tell it to. as long as its an asset - unique with a serial number or identifier. then it can be trained to manage assets -purchase, PPM, breakdowns and replacement regardless of what that asset is used for.

Regards

Brian

Hi Richard. I agree with you on the whole cost of setting up the GS1 system. We have been selected as one of six trusts to implement it with some extra cash supplied by the gov to help. i have worked with RFID before and the trick is to get it right at the go. some work with radio frequency whereby you install beacons with the buildings, or you go along the wifi route. WIFI is more suitable as most trusts have it already installed. EPR, GS1 and RFID all running through wifi-what could go wrong
The rfid benefits the engineers more than the clinical staff unless you open the entire system to them. It can improve patient care in the sense you can locate that certain mattress, or bladder scanner or wheel chair, thus speeding up the care provided. Be sure to purchase rfid tags where you can replace the batteries. I have seen tags that are completely sealed and have a 2 year life span, pointless if you are trying to save money. with regards to damage of equipment its usefull when billing the offender as you can match time of damage to device (ecg machine) to the area it stopped working. I used the ekahau system in my previous trust and it worked well. The only problem is keeping up with battery levels on the devices before they stop speaking to the system.
Hopefully we should be a bit more aware of the capabilities of GS1 by April. It looks good on paper but as you say a mare to set up. Hopefully we can tie it in with the implementation of the RFID system we will end up with.

Interesting ... (in the technical sense, that is); but whilst reading that I could not help but think:-

"We're adding to the PM workload here"!

That is ... who maintains all that kit (the batteries, especially)?

Best get a decent set of step-ladders, then.