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When looking to improve any aspect of your business, it is always essential to work with experts in the relevant field. Not only do they possess the knowledge and experience to help steer crucial decisions, but they will also help you avoid potential pitfalls and reduce the risks involved for a smoother and more successful journey.
This is applicable to a number of areas within the modern veterinary practice, including infection control and prevention. The organisation you choose to work with when it comes to equipment installation and maintenance, as well as ongoing support for all members of your team, will have a significant impact on the quality, efficiency and reliability of your systems and processes.
Consequently, it is essential to select your decontamination service provider carefully, following meticulous criteria for the benefit of your business:
Equipment quality
The quality of equipment available should be priority number one for obvious reasons. No veterinary practice can afford the cost and hassle of installing autoclaves or reverse osmosis water systems only for them to malfunction or break down within a few months. The equipment should be designed for ergonomics and with a user-friendly interface that optimises both workflow efficiency and safety standards for staff. It must also be built to last, delivering durability and reliability in order to minimise the risk of downtime for a cost-effective and stress-free decontamination process in the practice. Some of the industry-leading autoclaves available today, for example, also feature automatic data logging and cycle management features, which further simplify the professional workflow while increasing efficiencies and supporting compliance.
Regulatory knowledge and sector experience
It is just as important that your provider understands the veterinary sector, including the challenges faced in practice every day and the broader regulations that govern the field. This will ensure their recommendations facilitate your practice’s compliance with the relevant rules and guidelines, avoiding any breach of legal responsibilities and sufficiently protecting staff, visitors and patients. For example, the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations (PSSR) scheme for autoclaves, which demand a competent person conduct annual testing, maintenance and certification of the pressure system. Key service providers with a proven track record will have an in-house team of specially trained engineers who are experts in completing the necessary PSSR documentation for all veterinary practices.
Service and support
The level of ongoing support available from a provider will have a massive impact on the veterinary practice’s experience. This should include all the information, advice and continuous technical help available before, during and after a purchase. For the practice, having access to robust support from experts, who respond to queries rapidly and can tailor their guidance for the individual business, will prove hugely beneficial. This quality of service should extend from telephone and other remote support options, to on-site testing, servicing and validation of appropriate equipment. In addition, a proactive and prevention-focused maintenance programme will stop equipment issues before they become significant problems and lead to malfunctions and downtime for the practice. Where all this and more is included as standard within a supplier’s service, veterinary practices can avoid hidden fees and additional charges throughout their contract for optimal cost-efficiency.
Team training
Where this support is truly comprehensive, it will also comprise of training for members of the veterinary team who will use the decontamination equipment every day. Leading providers in the field will offer this training as standard and with verifiable CPD credits. Receiving such a service from your provider means better informed in-house testing and cleaning processes for well-maintained equipment that functions efficiently and lasts longer for maximum return on investment. Face-to-face training with a knowledgeable and approachable individual will empower your staff and give them the confidence they need to complete decontamination tasks with ease.
Reputation and longevity
Many of the aforementioned credentials will contribute to a decontamination equipment and service provider’s reputation in the industry. An organisation that does all this and more – and does it well – will have built itself a reputation for quality and consistency. Testimonials and reviews, therefore, can offer an honest and reliable insight into the standard of products and services that your veterinary practice might expect from a specific company. Those who routinely achieve high star ratings can often be trusted to deliver equipment and services that meet or even exceed expectations.
The choice is yours
For every veterinary practice looking for a trusted decontamination equipment and service provider, there are several criteria that must be met. These include high-quality and reliable equipment and access to rapid response support from a team that knows what they’re doing. The outcome will be greater workflow efficiency in the practice, staff who know how to complete their tasks effectively, increased safety standards, reduced costs in terms of equipment repairs and surgery downtime, as well as less disruption to your clients. Finding the right provider for you will be essential for your business now and far into the future.
For more information on the leading equipment and support services supplied by Eschmann, please visit www.eschmann.co.uk or call 01903 753322.
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