by
Sean Ruck, Contributing Editor | August 01, 2014
From the August 2014 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
Relying on professionals for ProCare
According to Alisandra Rizzolo, vice president general manager of customer care for Stryker Corporation’s instruments division, while it’s very hard to predict when a piece of equipment will fail, by partnering with a quality service, hospitals can better manage costs since repairing an item is usually less expensive than replacing it.
Even better than repairing a piece of equipment is preventing its failure in the first place, thereby saving money on parts and eliminating unplanned downtime. Rizzolo identifies Stryker ProCare as a service the company offers to help do just that. “Stryker ProCare’s preventative maintenance services help hospitals take control of their costs by maximizing the equipment’s life-cycle,” she says. “Our highly-trained service team provides on-site equipment testing and works with hospitals to evaluate how equipment is being cleaned and stored to identify solutions to ensure the total cost of ownership is optimized.”
When even preventative maintenance can’t fend off an unforeseen system failure, the service also offers equipment repair options, onsite support and loaner equipment as well as a troubleshooting helpline for service- related questions, according to Rizzolo.
Rizzolo says the ProCare service team undergoes a rigorous training program in order to be ready to repair equipment according to OEM standards. “For all medical equipment, but especially those used in direct patient care, it is important that the devices being repaired are working in compliance with the highest OEM standards,” she says. “Stryker ProCare service providers are specially trained and certified to handle and repair parts according to the manufacturer’s instructions. They also have access to OEM original parts and the tools specifically designed to repair that equipment, which can elevate health care provider’s confidence in the repair and reduce the risk of malfunction or the need for additional repairs and services.”
Rizzolo says it’s common for hospitals to make the mistake of thinking that all service contracts provide them with the full line of services they need. That’s not necessarily the case, she says. “Hospitals should first evaluate their equipment service needs before selecting a service provider. Once a hospital has identified the breadth, volume and criticality of supplies in their facility, they can make an informed decision regarding what level of service they require and which provider can best match their needs.”
