If you work in a hospital you know how important it is to keep track of everything. If you want to provide a high standard of care you need to know where your equipment is. However, we all know that this is easier said than done. People from other departments can borrow heart monitors and other important machines. A result of this means that you can spend too much time looking for something you need. 

The good news is that life can be made so much easier. If you use the right equipment tracking software, tracking everything becomes a breeze. 

Hospital tracking software works in the same way as other tracking software. Ostensibly, you can use an RFID tag, for example, to help you track your monitors and everything else. Firstly, you need to choose some reliable equipment tracking software. As soon as you have, you’re halfway there. 

The next step is for you to attach an RFID tag, barcode, or QR code to those assets you want to track. This could be anything from stethoscopes to ECG machines to beds, etc. If you want to track something, affix an RFID tag, barcode, or QR code to it. Once a code is attached you can create what’s known as a digital profile. This profile will come up on your smartphone, for example, when you scan the barcode. Then, it will be time for you to add as much information about the asset as you wish. The profile that you’ll see in front of you will offer you the chance to fill in some boxes. Add as much information as you wish so you know what you’re tracking. 

Once you’ve filled in those all-important boxes you can begin to track your monitors, etc. This means you can see where they are at all times. You could even see whether they’re being used in another department and by whom. This makes life so much easier as it makes retrieving those assets relatively easy.

One of the benefits of using modern and reliable equipment tracking software is that it often lets you track almost anything. This ultimately means that you could track:

• Ambulances
• Furniture
• Storage equipment
• Medical fridges
• Microscopes
• Examination equipment 
• Computers, tablets, laptops
• Phones
• Scanners 
• All types of machines
• Beds
• And so much more 

If you can attach an RFID tag, or code to a flat surface, you can track whatever it’s stuck to. As a result, you can track some or all of the above, or even more. You can see where everything is at the touch of a button, giving you peace of mind. 

Just make sure that you affix the RFID tag, etc to somewhere inconspicuous. Ideally, the tag will be out of sight, meaning it’s less likely to be removed. You could, for example, put a tag on the rear side of your laptops. It could be added to the underside of a wheelchair, and so on. Tags and barcodes tend to be very hard-wearing which means they’ll keep tracking for a long time.

Tracking software can do so much more than you think. Most modern equipment tracking software can help you to do some or all of the following:

• Schedule reminders so your assets are maintained regularly 
• Allow you and your team to check assets in and out
• Let you organise your assets into collections
• Make updating many assets in bulk, ensuring it’s easier 
• Allow you to track your assets via a smartphone or tablet
• Let you track assets via a laptop or desktop computer
• Make access easy as you can track everything via an iOS or Android app
• Allow you to create and export reports based on reliable data
• And much more 

Make sure that you opt for tracking software that offers all of the above and more. If you do, you’re more likely to have reliable, easy-to-use software that works well.

One of the best benefits associated with using equipment tracking software is the improvement in patient care. You could, for example, find and retrieve much-needed equipment more quickly. This ultimately means that your patients may not have to wait as long to receive treatment. 

The equipment and anything else that you use is likely to be in a better condition than it otherwise would. This is all thanks to the fact that regular maintenance can be scheduled. A result of this means that faults and issues could be found sooner rather than later. It also means you could spend less money trying to replace those assets that no longer work. This is simply because you’ll take better care of your current machines and monitors, etc. 

Wish to speak with an equipment tracking software expert about hospital equipment tracking? Contact us now at team@itemit.com

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You need to take good care of your assets. From the moment you purchase them and throughout their lives so they last as long as possible. However, all assets fail, are lost, or get broken. The good news is that you can help to lengthen your asset’s life. You can do this by using methods such as pre-emptive maintenance. 

Read on for some suggestions that can help.

One of the best and easiest ways for you to take care of your assets is to track them. When you opt for some reliable asset tracking software, you’re in good hands. Ideally, the software you choose will let you track your assets 24 hours a day. Regardless of where you are or what device you’re using, you should be able to locate your assets quickly. 

Affix an RFID tag, barcode, or QR code to your assets and create a digital profile. Let this profile help you to track assets and make use of a range of features. Some software allows you to plan for pre-emptive maintenance, lets you export reports, and more. Just make sure you opt for tracking software that’s reliable and modern. If you do, you’re onto a winner.

Another really useful and easy way of looking after your assets is by assigning them. When you carefully assign assets to the right people, you know they’re in safe hands. 

The people you assign the assets to will be aware that you track the assets. Automatically, this means that they will be taken care of. Additionally, when you assign assets it means that no one else has authorised use. This feature ups the security level instantly. It means that assets may not be stolen or get lost. It also means that they may be looked after a little more. While they may still need to undergo yearly or quarterly pre-emptive maintenance, for example, they could be in better condition. 

Did you know that when you assign assets you can see who is using which assets and where they’re located? 

When you assign assets upon request you start to build a picture of which department needs what. This picture, as such, comes in the form of data and you could export a report. Depending on the tracking software you choose, this feature can prove to be extremely helpful.

It goes without saying that you want to take care of your assets. This is where pre-emptive maintenance comes in. Maintenance such as this allows you to get on top of issues before they become a real problem. 

In other words, you can set up a maintenance schedule so everything is looked after. Remember when we talked about creating a digital profile for each of your assets? When you do this, you’re given the opportunity to set up reminders. These reminders can be maintenance reminders. 

Set up in accordance with how often you wish your assets to be checked out, maintenance reminders are a great idea. They help you to lengthen your assets’ life with ease. 

Set up a reminder for each of your assets. Be sure to send an alert to your maintenance team so they know what’s what. As soon as they receive the alert they can add the asset to the maintenance queue. With any luck, your assets will be checked over and repaired (if necessary) quickly. It’s these repairs that also help you to lengthen the life of your assets.

We have already looked at you tagging all of your current assets. However, you also need to make sure that you tag any new assets. When you do, you give yourself the opportunity to take more care of them. 

It can be difficult to know when new assets arrive. So, ask a member of your team or two to alert you when this happens. You can then add the asset to the system and create a digital profile. Make sure you also create a schedule so that pre-emptive maintenance is organised. With any luck, it will be a while before new assets need to be repaired. However, it’s always worth adding them to a digital profile just in case. Doing so also means you can track the location of each asset. This can only be a good thing. 

It is perfectly possible for you to lengthen the life of your assets. The great news is that you don’t need to do very much to achieve this. Simply track your assets, add a tag, assign assets, and set up maintenance schedules. When you do all of the above you can easily lengthen the life of your assets. 

Would you like to chat with an expert about using pre-emptive maintenance to lengthen your asset’s life? Contact us now at team@itemit.com.

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or, download the itemit app to get started