In the field of healthcare, hospital infrastructure plays a crucial role, not only in ensuring the efficiency of daily operations, but also in protecting valuable equipment and, most importantly, in safeguarding the lives of patients.
A recent case study conducted by Above-Net in the medical field strikingly illustrates the risks associated with inadequate monitoring of high-cost equipment, which has a significant impact on operation, initially focused only on basic temperature and humidity control. This highlights the critical need to implement efficient solutions that can act proactively.
The Challenge Faced
The case in question involves a hospital that suffered significant losses due to damage to a hemodynamics machine, a vital area that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of cardiological, neurological, and endovascular conditions, using high-value imaging equipment. The cause of the defect was identified as excessive humidity in the room, which condensed on the equipment's circuit board, resulting in a short circuit. The failure was not covered by the warranty, as it was considered a violation of normal operating conditions, resulting in an estimated repair cost of 140,000 reais.
The Intelligent Monitoring Solution
This direct financial loss, while substantial, does not capture the full impact of the situation. The damaged equipment was out of operation, resulting in the inability to perform vital examinations, directly affecting the hospital's revenue and, more seriously, patient care. The root of the problem? The lack of a critical environmental monitoring system capable of controlling room temperature and humidity, something easily implemented with current Internet of Things (IoT) technology.
To solve this problem, Above-Net developed Bridgemeter, an intelligent solution for monitoring hospital infrastructure. Bridgemeter is a platform that uses sensors, devices, and software to track critical variables of each piece of infrastructure equipment, such as temperature, humidity, voltage, current, pressure, and others. It uses combined rules to perform predictive analyses, identifying trends, patterns, and anomalies, and suggesting preventive or corrective actions.
Bridgemeter allows managers and technicians to access real-time information via computers or mobile applications, enabling them to view control panels, graphs, historical data, alarms, and notifications. The platform also triggers automatic notifications for maintenance team intervention before a failure becomes irreversible. Some examples of equipment that can be monitored by Bridgemeter include:
Compressors: The compressor is a highly stressed piece of equipment that operates 24 hours a day with an estimated lifespan of 30,000 hours. It is responsible for cooling the helium gas used in imaging equipment. The Bridgemeter monitors the voltage, current, humidity, water temperature, and compressor pressure to ensure optimal operating conditions.
Chillers: The "heart" of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They must maintain a temperature between 8°C and 10°C. Chillers are usually installed in hard-to-reach areas, making them difficult to monitor. With Bridgemeter, it's possible to monitor the temperature and condition of the chiller's filters. Upon detecting degradation that impacts operation, Bridgemeter sends alarms and tasks for scheduling maintenance.
The ROI of Prevention
This case underscores the importance and value of investing in infrastructure monitoring systems. Implementing Bridgemeter is not just a preventative measure to protect valuable equipment; it's a financially sound strategy. The cost associated with monitoring is low compared to the costs of repairs, lost revenue, and potentially lost human lives due to inoperable equipment. Furthermore, it highlights that an intelligent and integrated monitoring system can offer a rapid return on investment, safeguarding against significant financial and operational losses.
Another advantage of Bridgemeter is its marketability as a solution as a service (SaaS) . There is no need to purchase any equipment or system licenses. Simply choose the sensors or equipment to be monitored and the monitoring package.
Recommended Action
Hospitals and healthcare institutions should prioritize monitoring their most critical and valuable equipment and environments. Identifying infrastructure "gems," such as MRI equipment and hemodynamics areas, and protecting them with dedicated monitoring systems, is not just a recommended practice; it is an urgent necessity.
Adopting IoT technologies for continuous monitoring of temperature, humidity, and other critical parameters is a viable and affordable solution. These systems offer the ability to detect and alert on adverse conditions before they cause damage, allowing for rapid interventions and preventing substantial losses.
Conclusion
The case study of the hospital with damaged hemodynamics equipment serves as a clear warning to the healthcare sector. The lack of adequate monitoring of hospital infrastructure not only results in direct financial losses, but also negatively impacts the delivery of patient care.
Bridgemeter is a robust and reliable solution capable of monitoring critical operational variables, increasing safety, and drastically reducing the risks of imaging equipment maintenance. With Above-Net's IoT solution, hospitals can optimize the use of their resources, avoid losses and damages, and guarantee the quality of their healthcare services.
Catalog
Want to know more about how to carry out Intelligent Management of Hospital Infrastructure?
Download our brochure to explore how IoT monitoring of hospital infrastructure improves patient care. Discover smart preventive monitoring solutions with Bridgemeter.
Read also:
IoT and Hospital Infrastructure
Intelligent Operational Management of Hospital Infrastructure
