An analysis of the functional state and costs of maintenance and repiar of capital medical equipment at Dr Yusuf Dadoo hospital
Date
2014-08-26
Authors
Sofohlo, Patrick Mbeko
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Medical equipment is used in the diagnosis, treatment and
monitoring of patients and their maintenance is a fundamental part of
managing these technologies in hospitals. Over the recent years equipment
down-time has been an increasing concern within the delivery of health care
services. This study focussed on the analysis of the functional state and costs
of maintenance and repair of all capital medical equipment (CME) at a district
hospital in the Gauteng Province.
AIM: To analyse the functional state and purchasing and service costs of
CME at the DYD Hospital during ten year study period (April 2001 to March
2011)
METHODOLOGY: The setting of this study was Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital
(DYD Hospital) a district hospital situated in the West Rand District in the
Gauteng Province. A cross-sectional retrospective record review study of all
CME was done in OPD, In-patient units, Radiology and Surgical Theatre. The
data for this study was extracted from the records which were captured and
kept by the asset management department, finance and maintenance
divisions of the Hospital.
RESULTS: Most of the CME (196, 97%) procured during the study period was
still functional and only seven (3%) was condemned. Nearly a quarter of them
(24%) were in a good condition. However, a high proportion (73%) was in a
fair condition requiring replacement within three to four years and only a small
proportion (3%) was in a poor condition nearing the end of its life expectancy
benchmark. There were significant differences in terms of condition of
equipment among different departments of the Hospital (Chi-square test,
p<0.001). The actual lifespan of CME was significantly lower than the
expected useful lifespan (Mann Whitney’s U test, p<0.001).
The total purchasing costs for all four departments were R 8,217,760.36
(median R 18,500, IQR R 9,690 – R 100,500). The individual purchasing cost
of CME in the Radiology department was significantly higher than the other
departments (ANOVA, p<0.01). The total service costs for all four
departments were R 1,454,566.85 (median R3,500, IQR R1,250 - R10,075).
There was no significant differences in service costs among the four
departments (ANOVA, p=0.10).
CONCLUSION: DYD Hospital had adequate numbers of CME and they were
well maintained. However, significant replacement was likely to be required by
the Hospital in the near future as the majority of CME was nearing the end of
its life expectancy benchmark. These findings were reported as a research
report which was submitted to the University of the Witwatersrand and the
Gauteng Department of Health. The detailed findings were also presented
and explained to all staff of DYD Hospital in a workshop that was held in the
Hospital for implementation of the recommendations from this study.