Why management of equipment service is important.

Appropriate equipment service--whether performed by hospital personnel, equipment manufacturers, or other organizations--is essential to high-quality, cost-effective patient care. Both in-house and outside service must be closely managed, however, and other key aspects of equipment support usually belong in-house even when all equipment is serviced by outsiders. Careful management of equipment service has the potential for substantial savings; this issue of Health Technology focuses on achieving these savings.