Internally Developed Medical Equipment Management System: A Viable Alternative

A medical equipment management computer system, internally developed by Rhode Island Hospital, is presented. Hospital biomedical engineering departments must contend with ever-increasing regulatory requirements for patient-care equipment. Computerization is a viable solution to meeting the documentation standards dictated by healthcare governing bodies. Rhode Island Hospital's system consists of a MacintoshTM database software, and PsionTM LZ64 Organiser handheld computer. Files were set up on equipment data, JCAHO-required historical documentation, service, inspections, part codes and locations, and vendor contact information. Technical inspection data recording time was reduced by approximately 30%.