Change. Some say change is the only constant in our lives. For most people change occurs and life continues on as usual. While it is normal to have some anxiety towards change, others have a fear that is neither rational nor desired – also known as Metathesiophobia. People suffering from this phobia do not want anything that is different than what they already have.
While not everyone has full on Metathesiophobia, it is safe to say that most people are comfortable in their day-to-day routines and view some changes as stressful. Resistance to change is often triggered by the fear of the unknown or loss of control.
Hospitals across the country are being forced to cut costs and to meet these new slimmed-down budgets, changes are imminent. As a healthcare administrator, you carefully review every single line item on the general ledger in hopes of finding new places to eliminate unnecessary expenses, while still providing high quality services. Talk about stressful!
Over the past several years, equipment maintenance management agreements have come into the spotlight. Changing how they are handled can yield significant savings.
Peace of Mind
Buying service agreements directly from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) at the time the equipment is purchased has become the standard practice in many hospitals. Most healthcare administrators buy service agreements from the OEM for “peace of mind.” But how much is that “peace” costing your facility?
There are some instances when manufacturer service agreements are the smartest choice to maintain certain types of equipment, such as mission critical equipment, equipment with proprietary parts, new technology, or software intensive equipment. However, purchasing that same agreement for all of your facility’s equipment may be unnecessary and expensive. There are often alternatives available to the typical service agreement.
Bundled Contracts
When purchasing new medical equipment, always have the salesperson break out the cost of the service agreement from the actual price of the equipment. It is important to know exactly how much you are paying for service.
Coverage Levels
When considering the purchase of an OEM service agreement, it’s helpful to know the appropriate level of service required for each piece of equipment. The goal is to choose the best service option that will ensure the highest level of equipment uptime and reliability at the best possible price. Once size does not fit all when it comes to service levels.
Benjamin Franklin once said, “If you are finished changing, you are finished.” To ease the resistance of change, include employees in the decision making process. Help them recognize the benefits of the changes and explain in detail why they are necessary.
Change is necessary if a business wants to remain competitive. Is your facility stuck in a vicious circle of budget cuts, layoffs, and patient service reductions? Perhaps Metathesiophobia is costing you more than you realize.
If you have any questions, please visit Remi’s website, www.theremigroup.com, or email me at shelley.schuster@theremigroup.com for more information.