Often there is a mix of
ownership across a health care organization. Whatever ownership model is employed, it
will have implications when it comes to locating equipment and to the funding of maintenance
and repair. No single strategy has emerged as the best. Ownership is often defined
as part of the health care organization’s broader business process. This reality and staff
sentiment often make it hard to change ownership patterns. With vigilance, areas where
the current ownership practices are impeding efficient device management can be identified,
and different practices possibly can be adopted. Any maintenance and repair service
provider should be prepared to adapt to existing conditions.
Other strategies to consider include balancing the level of support against available
technical capability, both internal and external. In some countries, health care organizations
find it almost impossible to obtain any technical support for their medical devices,
while in other countries the capability and availability of such services are high. Scrutiny
of all technical resources available to a given locality is essential in order to ensure
that the highest quality and most cost-effective service are provided to the health care
organization.
There always will be new and different strategies to consider. Some of these will
be brought about by changes to technology and improvements in device management
techniques. Others will be brought about by changes in financial or business requirements.
No single strategy should be considered sacrosanct, and new strategies always
should be considered or sought out.