Clinical Asset Management

2023-04-19

What Clinical Asset Management Is

Clinical Asset Management, also called CAM, involves managing medical equipment and devices used in healthcare facilities while ensuring proper management, patient safety and regulatory compliance. This process includes identifying, managing, maintaining, and disposing of medical assets. With the complexity of healthcare technology and the need for efficiency in healthcare delivery, clinical asset management has become a vital component of modern healthcare management.

In this article, we will discuss an overview of clinical asset management , its critical components, benefits, and future trends. We will also highlight the importance of clinical asset management in healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

Key Components of Clinical Asset Management

Clinical asset management is a complex process that requires several critical components to manage medical equipment effectively. These components include asset management, maintenance management and calibration, and risk management and compliance.

Asset management involves identifying and managing all medical assets in a healthcare facility, including usage, location, maintenance, and warranty information. Asset management together with real-time asset tracking using barcode or RFID technology helps ensure that medical devices are available when needed, reducing equipment downtime, and improving patient safety.

Maintenance management is crucial for ensuring the reliability and accuracy of medical equipment. Regular maintenance and calibration help reduce repair costs, extend the lifespan of devices, and minimise the risk of equipment failure when in use. Equipment should be calibrated according to manufacturer specifications or national standards, and records of all maintenance and calibration should be kept.

Risk management and compliance are also essential components of clinical asset management. Accurate records of equipment, risk assessments, and safety protocols must be maintained to ensure that all medical devices are used safely and effectively. Regular audits and inspections help identify potential safety hazards and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

Benefits of Clinical Asset Management

Effective clinical asset management offers several benefits to healthcare facilities, including cost savings, improved patient outcomes, regulatory compliance, and reduced risk of equipment failure.

Cost savings: Reduces equipment downtime, maintenance costs, and extends equipment lifespan, leading to lower replacement costs.
Regulatory compliance: Helps facilities comply with regulatory standards and avoid penalties by maintaining accurate records, conducting risk assessments, and implementing safety protocols.
Enhanced asset utilisation: Optimises equipment use by tracking usage data and performance metrics, reducing waste and improving efficiency.
Improved workflow and productivity: Streamline workflows and improves productivity by reducing downtime and ensuring equipment availability, through improved data governance and analytics.
Enhanced equipment performance and lifespan: Regular maintenance and calibration of medical equipment enhances performance and extends device lifespan, reducing replacement needs.
Reduced risk of adverse events: Ensures medical equipment is properly maintained and calibrated according to manufacturer specifications, reducing the likelihood of equipment-related adverse events.
Improved data management: Clinical asset management systems enable healthcare facilities to store and analyse asset data, providing insights into equipment usage, performance, and maintenance needs, leading to informed asset management decisions and improved efficiency.
Sustained patient safety: Ensures medical equipment is available and functioning properly, reducing the risk of equipment failure and adverse events, enhancing patient safety.

Future of Clinical Asset Management

The future of clinical asset management is intertwined with the development of healthcare technology, particularly smart medical equipment, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to enhance asset management.

One notable trend is the development of smart medical devices that can self-monitor and report on their performance, maintenance requirements, and usage. By utilising sensors to track their location and usage, these devices can prompt service requests and minimise the workload of clinical engineering teams while increasing the accuracy and reliability of asset management.

AI and ML are increasingly used to optimise asset management by analysing equipment performance data, forecasting maintenance needs, and identifying potential safety hazards. This helps healthcare facilities to enhance maintenance schedules, minimise equipment downtime, and improve overall asset management efficiency.

Cloud-based technologies and the Internet of Things (IoT) are also driving the future of clinical asset management. Cloud-based solutions offer secure storage of asset data, remote access, and analysis through AI and ML tools. IoT devices can be used to track and monitor equipment usage and performance remotely, enabling real-time asset management and reducing manual monitoring needs.

The future of clinical asset management emphasises the optimisation of asset management by leveraging advanced technologies such as smart devices, AI and ML, cloud-based solutions, and IoT. These technologies enable healthcare facilities to improve the precision and efficiency of asset management, reduce expenses, and sustain patient safety.

Summary

Clinical asset management is crucial for healthcare facilities to optimise the use and management of medical equipment. By implementing efficient strategies, healthcare facilities can save costs, improve patient outcomes, and reduce equipment failure risk while ensuring regulatory compliance. Strategies include inventorying medical assets, implementing an asset management system, developing maintenance and calibration schedules, staff training, and continuous evaluation and improvement.

The future of clinical asset management involves leveraging advanced technologies like smart devices, AI and ML, cloud-based solutions, and IoT. Adopting these technologies enhances accuracy and efficiency, reduces costs, and improves patient safety. Implementing effective clinical asset management strategies and embracing new technologies is crucial for optimal management of medical assets, improved patient outcomes, and high-quality healthcare services.

Are you interested in learning how a comprehensive EAM solution designed for healthcare can help your healthcare organisation streamline clinical asset management, ensure regulatory compliance, and improve patient safety?