Evaluating the Importance & Impact of Remote Service

The worlds of biomedical engineers and IT professionals become a little more complicated each day, and as more devices are added to your network, managing updates and preventative maintenance becomes even more complex.

Many facilities are considering remote management solutions, which are cloud-based software applications that allow a user to remotely monitor, troubleshoot and maintain a fleet of connected medical devices. But can adding remote device management really make that big of an impact? Let’s explore.

Containing the Chaos

Part of what makes your day-to-day so complex is the sheer volume and variety of tasks demanding your attention, including:

• Updates and preventative maintenance needs that require devices to be tracked down.
• New security threats and other vulnerabilities that emerge.
• Intricate asset management needs that require more detail than ever before.

These challenges have implications across an entire health system, not just your department. Device downtime and software management gaps can put patient care and patient data at risk.¹ Improving this process and reducing disruptions has the potential to impact operational, clinical and financial outcomes. Let’s look at some areas where remote management could help streamline your workflow.

Updates and Upgrades Are Just Clicks Away
What previously required hours of manual updates can be activated with a few clicks from a remote management tool. Imagine the impact on your day if you can better plan updates with your clinical teams, push them remotely and confirm when updates have been completed — all without needing to touch each individual device. You can now reinvest your time on more urgent matters.

Troubleshoot with Ease
Troubleshooting is another traditionally time-intensive activity that often leads to device downtime. With remote management, easier access to log files means you can assess errors and seek assistance quickly. Consider the possibility of pulling log files and reviewing device component data without leaving your desk, connecting with Hillrom’s technical support team and sharing log files for real-time discussions to help pinpoint issues — reducing the time to resolution.

Preventative Maintenance Made Simpler
Finally, tracking down devices can be daunting and time-consuming, causing preventative maintenance delays and an ever-increasing to-do list. But a remote service solution like SmartCare^™ Remote Management informs you when preventative maintenance is due. And with a few clicks, SmartCare Remote Management shows you where devices due for maintenance are located — allowing you to schedule maintenance in advance or coordinate larger maintenance activities. To make your updates more efficient, you can leverage Hillrom’s reporting tool to determine which devices are due for calibration in each location, making it simpler to schedule multiple device updates at once and save even more time.

Remote Management Makes an Impact
Ultimately, by leveraging a tool like SmartCare Remote Management, you can take control of the health of your equipment by proactively managing connected devices across your enterprise from a single, remote location. With a portal that’s simple to use whether you’re managing one facility or fifty, you can ensure your fleet is functioning at its best.