| [ Summary ] |
Concerning the economic features of maintenance control of life sustaining equipment (herein ater device), the repair (regular overhaul; OH) made by a clinical engineering technologist (technologist) was compared with that consigned to an outside source. The device was a monitoring apparatus for hemodiaiysis patients. The cost of repair by our technologist was calculated from the mean OH time and the hourly wage of the technician. The cost of repair by an outside source was calculated on the basis of the standard cost for replacement of a similar part by that source. Excluding the part cost, the cost per device was 14,000 YEN when the repair was done by our technologist against 119,000 YEN by an outside source, indicating an economic advantage in the former case. For a technologist to OH a device by himself, he has to fully understand the motions, structure and mechanism of the device in question. This will lead to improved safety in the clinical application of the device. OH by our technologist is assumed to be essential not only because it is more economical but also in view of clinical safety. High quality inspection and maintenance,coupled with low cost repair, which are presently in demand, should prompt technologists to expand their range of activities aimed at providing high quality medical care. |