Solving the CMMS Disconnect
Did you know it takes an average of 21 minutes to add, update, or reassign a device within a healthcare delivery organization’s (HDO) database? Multiplied by thousands of devices, a fair question arises—Is this really how talented BioMed staff and clinical engineers have to spend their time?
Today, healthcare is digital, and almost everything is converging on a shared infrastructure, including clinical networks. So, why is that 40% of BioMed's time is wasted on low-value tasks, like searching for equipment, assessing unbroken assets due to operator error, or juggling the details of multiple vendor contracts?
It comes down to a fundamental lack of data.
As we work to deliver the robust data needed to support unique Biomedical use cases, an apparent disconnect between the tools and devices is visible – and it causes the plethora of manual workflows and processes that BioMed uses to get the job done.
I remember the BioMed teams who’d make rounds and work on the devices in our ER. They were some of the most hardworking, intelligent, and diligent professionals I’ve ever known. Looking at it now, how could the system they rely on not be connected directly to the devices and the network it manages?
What happens is that our BioMed teams wear good walking shoes and spend hours searching the hallways for the devices they need. I bet their step-counters are probably through the roof each day... and when they do find the device, they have to explain why they’re taking it to an exasperated nurse!
Connecting CMMS with Data to Extract Value
The reality is that a traditional CMMS is disconnected from the assets it manages. It relies on manually inputting serial/asset numbers, models, and manufacturer information for each device under its management – one 21-minute block at a time. Every time an update is needed, manual collection methods are required to maintain accuracy and inform decision-making.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t support the real-time, connected health model that most HDOs want. To do their job, BioMed, clinical engineers, and maintenance teams need access to current data on the devices within the environment. They also need contextual information on each asset's potential risks and impacts to prioritize actions that maximize the operational value of their device inventory.
That’s where Medigate Clinical Device Efficiency (CDE) comes in. The CDE module can provide this contextual information. By enabling bi-directional integrations with the CMMS, the result is a dynamic, data-rich system of record.
This data can dramatically increase the accuracy of CMMS inventories, streamline system-initiated operations, and improve the value of non-native ecosystem workflows. All of these benefits show up in real financial impacts – both in the time a BioMed engineer spends each day and in the investment an HDO makes in their devices.
To learn more about what health systems need to power their connected health, click here.
