When should technology be replaced?

a. Safety and regulatory issues

b. When undergoing repair, it is found that parts and support are no longer available.

Why develop technology replacement plans?

i. Money limitations
ii. Able to anticipate major repairs (according to equipment life cycle)
iii. Competitive pricing
iv. Strategic planning needed
v. Standardization – reduced consumable costs and fewer training issues.
vi. Standards of care – new procedures/methods
vii. Utilization – low vs high utilization rate.
viii. Technology status
 Obsolete
 Unsafe
 No support
ix. Cost advantages of new technology

Methodology – gather the data on

 Safety
 User problems
 Reliability
 Support costs
 Utilization rate
 Age

CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) can be used as a resource

Methodology – indicators

a. Device function/risk
b. Maintenance data
 Support from manufacturer
 Parts, repair staff, service contracts, diagnostics unavailable from manufacturer
c. No alternative support
d. No service documentation, tools, manuals, upgrades
e. Safety data
 Recalls
 Hazard alerts
 Incidents
 Regulatory prohibition
 Lack of essential safety features
f. User problems
 User errors
 No problems found
g. Poor reliability
 Increased downtime
  Decreased staff satisfaction
 Higher failure rate
 Inefficient

Methodology – perform the analysis

a. Perform analysis
1. Maintenance costs over the past three years exceeded 25% of purchase cost of the
device
2. Age > 125% of equipment useful life – for example
Calculations – Age factor
(Current Year – Manufacturer Date)/Life Expectancy
Patient Defibrillator made in 2000
Age Factor = (2006-2000)/10 = 60% depreciation
Calculations – reliability
(Number of Failures)/Total Pieces of Equipment type
Example: 20 Anesthesia Machines with 10 failures per month
Reliability: 10/20 = 50% reliability per month
Calculations – Maintenance Costs
(Maintenance Costs)/Purchase of New Equipment
Example: R5000 maintenance costs on existing infant incubator, new incubator costs
R12, 000.00
Maintenance costs = 5000/12000 = 42%

3. Does not meet regulations