Controlling Repair and Maintenance Expenses on Surgical Scopes

In today’s blog, we are going to take a look at a few tips that can help healthcare administrators ensure that advanced technologies are available to surgical staffs when needed, while also controlling repair and maintenance expenses that can cut into new equipment budgets. Reducing costs related to scope and instrument damage is considered to be vital to controlling overall cost effectiveness.

The following tips can provide needed support in these efforts:

1. Training pays off - Mishandling equipment is one of the most frequent causes of damage to delicate instruments and scopes. However, this can be minimized through adequate training of the personnel who use, transport or care for delicate equipment. Before a new product is placed in service at the hospital, thorough in-service training should be mandatory for all involved staff in order to avoid improper handling.
2. Effective training is interdepartmental - Each department plays a vital role in the proper care of equipment, and it is more cost effective to teach people the correct handling techniques rather than to continually repair or replace broken scopes and instruments.
3. Track equipment damage - Another key preventive measure is to be sure to monitor damage. It can help identify patterns of improper use or handling as well as help improve staff education by emphasizing key areas of concern.
4. Storage is the critical point - Proper scope storage is an ESSENTIAL aspect of ensuring a long service life of expensive scopes and instruments. Be sure to always use proper storage equipment and techniques to prevent accidental damage.
5. Follow manufacturers' suggested guidelines - It is always best to follow the original manufacturer's recommendations for care and handling of equipment to minimize the potential for accidental damage.

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