How to Get More Mileage Out of Your LTC Capital Equipment
In this post, originally published in SGP’s the Link magazine, we share tips on how to extend the lifetime of LTC capital equipment, including hospital beds, patient lifts, tubs and hygiene systems, and more. Read the full September 2021 issue from SGP here.
If you have ever had to pay for a surprise (and pricey) repair on your vehicle, you know how it feels to have to manage the added expense and inconvenience, not to mention safety concerns if the issue was not detected in time.
Capital equipment such as hospital beds, lifts, and tubs are a significant investment for any long-term care facility. Although essential to quality care for residents, it is all too easy to overlook the importance of routine maintenance.
Just like regular visits to the mechanic keep your vehicle in working order, capital equipment functions best and most cost-effectively with regular preventative maintenance.
Waiting until something is broken can not only jeopardize the health and safety of your residents but costs more time and money while disrupting the efficiency of your facility.
What is more, these types of equipment are highly technical, requiring specialized expertise to properly service and maintain. This is typically outside the scope and duties of a maintenance manager.
Tips to Make Your LTC Capital Equipment Last Longer
Instead, extend the life of your LTC capital equipment (and avoid unanticipated and costly repairs) with these tips:
- Regularly inspect your equipment for deficiencies before any issues arise.
- Enroll in service programs from trained technicians with experience servicing all makes and models of capital equipment specifically in senior living and long-term care environments.
- Prioritize preventative maintenance programs for your entire fleet of bed models. Lifts require annual max weight load testing. This can be annual or semi-annual.
- Have trained auditors ensure rail compliance for hospital bed rail systems. This is recommended annually and can be rescheduled at your convenience.
- Evaluate mattresses and slings for breakdown and sizing deficiencies as part of compliance audits. Trained technicians can make specific recommendations based on the level of wear and tear to the mattress.
- Manage your equipment asset pool online instead of inconvenient spreadsheets – at no additional cost (and included with all service calls, preventative maintenance, and audits), we offer a user-friendly app (desktop and mobile) to quickly and easily track equipment status and details in real time. You can manage users, have full visibility of your asset pool, and print out convenient reports for the Ministry of Health.
With these tips, you will be able to get more mileage out of your equipment so you can focus on what you do best – delivering quality care to all your residents.
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SFI Medical is a Proud Member of SGP Purchasing Partner Network
Proudly Canadian owned and operated, SFI Medical Equipment Solutions provides capital equipment, parts, and service solutions to long-term care facilities and hospitals nationwide. With exclusive experience in long-term care, our team is dedicated to providing residents and care teams with access to safe, certified equipment with the highest quality customer service available.
For a free consultation for your facility, contact us today!
1-888-734-4575 | info@sfimedical.com
