Efforts of RHSDP for Hospital Equipment Utilization

Efforts of RHSDP for Hospital Equipment Utilization

By: Dr. P.C.Ranka, Additional Director, RHSDP

RHSDP since its inception stressed over the optimum utilization of equipments irrespective of their source of procurement in the Medical and Health Department in Rajasthan.

1. Situation analysis and gap assessment at the time of preparation of the project and involvement of biomedical engineer
2. Specifications were developed as per the need of end user as were the part of the specification development committee.
3. One time repair of all the equipments and Hospital furniture at project facilities by District project coordinators to ensure maximum availability and reliability of equipment, extend life of equipment, reducing downtime and safety of operations. This included preventive as well as corrective maintenance.
4. Training to the medical and paramedical staff on various equipments like monitor and defibrillators, EEG, Ventilators, Endoscope, ECHO- Cardiograph, Tread Meal Test. Para- medical staff for ECG, Lab equipments, radiographers, OT staff, with well developed modules by CSIO for day to day maintenance.
5. Civil, electrical, air conditioning, plumbing activities were coordinated while installing the equipment before re- commissioning of the facilities to ensure effective use of equipment.
6. Availability of the facility of equipment was disseminated through IEC.
7. Orders were issued to entertain requests for investigations from doctors other than the parent institution to get more access and as well as user fee.
8. Complaint re dressal was coordinated from the project office, DPC office as well as by end user.
9. Facility of power backup was ensued by the generators provided by NRHM
10.Six Months Short duration skill up gradation course for in service doctors to meet the shortage of pathologists and radiologists.

Suggestions for further improvement:

Much more can be done for optimum utilization of equipments by adding annual maintenance for equipment life, use of up gradable specifications of the equipment, net working of the costly equipments amongst DH and CHCs., analysis by use coefficient (No. of hours equipment used per day /maximum number of hours the equipment can be used per day multiplied by 100.and by the time scheduling of the hospitals for investigations as two/three shifts.