Exact matches between workload for the equipment in the hospital and the
staff available to do the work are rare. So, rather than plan a programme with
the goal to inspect and maintain all the equipment and then not completing the
scheduled work, (thus leaving some of the critical, high risk or life support
equipment not serviced), it is better to carefully identify the equipment in
the health-care facility that is the most important to inspect and maintain, and
schedule this work as a priority. Creating such a ‘tiered process’ , where the most
important equipment is dealt with first,is a better use of limited resources.
When additional staff is added and their training completed, the next lower tier of
equipment can be added to the schedule.Managing the process in this manner
gives the manager more control over both the work and the outcome. The following
are examples of how maintenance may be prioritized.