Healthcare technology management (HTM) professionals learned practical strategies for improving medical equipment troubleshooting, reducing repeat service calls and increasing repair efficiency during a recent TechNation Webinar Wednesday presentation sponsored by Advanced Ultrasound Systems (AUS).
The webinar, “Determining an Effective Troubleshooting Process,” was presented by Thomas Thompson, field service specialist at AUS. The educational session attracted 140 registrants, with 90 attendees participating in the live session. A recording of the webinar on troubleshooting is available for on-demand viewing at https://1technation.com/category/webinars/. The webinar is eligible for 1 continuing education credit from the AAMI Credentials Institute (ACI).
Thompson discussed the importance of establishing a consistent troubleshooting process to help biomedical equipment technicians (BMETs), clinical engineers and field service professionals identify problems, gather essential information and develop effective repair strategies.
Repeat service appointments can consume valuable time, increase equipment downtime and negatively affect customer confidence. Thompson emphasized the value of building a strong troubleshooting foundation that technicians can apply to a variety of service situations.
The presentation outlined a practical approach to identifying equipment issues, collecting relevant information and developing a plan for resolving problems. Topics included effective customer communication, categorizing technical issues and maintaining productivity during field service appointments.
One key strategy involved classifying equipment problems into three categories: software, hardware and network-related issues. This approach can help technicians narrow their focus, identify potential causes and work toward solutions more efficiently.
“When troubleshooting, using the strategy of categorizing each repair issue under one of these umbrellas: software, hardware or network-related issues,” said Shannon Dingus, a manager, when describing the session’s biggest takeaway.
The importance of comprehensive equipment testing also resonated with attendees. Verifying that equipment is functioning properly before leaving a service appointment can help prevent additional service calls and improve customer satisfaction.
“Verifying everything is operational before leaving, even if it wasn’t related to the repair you were making is super important, but not often thought of,” said Anna Kestek, a BMET.
The webinar also highlighted the value of continuing education and sharing troubleshooting techniques among HTM team members.
“I plan to go over this webinar, again, and will be sharing it with my management team. Lots of useful information for both new and seasoned service techs,” said Amanda Smith, a BMET II.
The session reinforced how a systematic approach to medical equipment troubleshooting, combined with effective communication and thorough testing, can help HTM professionals minimize downtime, improve service efficiency and strengthen customer relationships.
HTM professionals who missed the live presentation or want to review the troubleshooting strategies can watch the webinar at https://1technation.com/category/webinars/.
Webinar Wednesday thanks sponsor Advanced Ultrasound Systems, a provider of ultrasound equipment and services specializing in the sale and repair of new and refurbished medical devices. For more information, visit advancedultrasound.com.
