Services
The scope of Managed Technology Services (MTS) ranges from asset management through to total outsourcing and risk sharing in all areas of high technology within the hospital environment. These include managed service solutions for diagnostic imaging equipment and systems, Picture Archiving and Communications Systems (PACS), medical equipment and maintenance services as well as IT systems, from traditional administrative through to complete clinical Electronic Patient Records (EPR). Such an approach offers significant benefits in providing modern and reliable and systems to meet ongoing equipment functionality and specification requirements for the duration of the defined contract term.
In addition, these services can also be integrated with a wide range of technologies such as voice communication, network infrastructure, complete building and environmental management systems, including fire, security and energy management, in order to provide a complete technology solution for most of a hospital’s operational issues.
SMS’ Managed Technology Service, provided by internal financing, meets with all the requirements of PFI, e.g. value for money and risk sharing. This approach is widely accepted within the NHS as an affordable solution to meet the long-term needs of a Trust by providing a rolling replacement, upgrade and maintenance program for equipment or system at a fixed annual price
Many companies offer a range of technological expertise. However, when considering the complexity of refurbished or newly built hospitals that need to be delivered on-time and within budget, Siemens is unparalleled in their proven capability to provide the range of specialist technologies and services needed by the NHS and private healthcare organisations.
Developed from a sound understanding of each hospital’s requirements, SHS has that proven track record in delivering high quality, low risk services to a number of Trusts and private hospitals in the UK. Through their unique links with a wide variety of partners, and through the unrivalled resources of the Siemens group, SHS can also offer:
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Project and risk management;
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Strategic, operational and quality consultancy;
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Financial support services;
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Departmental management services;
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Project services and information management infrastructure;
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Imaging department services;
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Medical equipment services;
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Desktop and maintenance management;
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Data and voice network management; and
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Managed Technology Services.
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FAQ
What is Managed Equipment/Technology Services?
The main focus of SMS Managed Technology Services is the provision of a seamless asset management service that offers significant benefits in providing modern and reliable technology to meet each Trust’s ongoing requirements to meet a defined clinical need. Siemens primary responsibility is to equip the hospital to an agreed specification and level of functionality. As part of the service, we will contract to an agreed level of equipment availability thereby, ensuring that its performance is always kept at a maximum.
What can it include?
The service is developed to ensure an optimum balance of risk share with demonstrable long-term value for money, with payment profiles linked to performance criteria.
The key features of the Managed Technology Service are:
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Management of legacy systems
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Flexible rolling capital equipment replacement programs;
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Fixed service charge;
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Provision of equipment to agreed standards and specifications;
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Fixed rate maintenance and service support including the provision of durables;
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On-going applications support for all equipment;
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Technology refreshment at agreed time scales and to known standards;
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Operator and technician training for all systems; and Annual Service review process to optimise the timing of upgrades, service enhancements, and system configurations in line with the Service requirements.
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SMS will assume responsibility for the following:
Cost of future replacements; Maintenance costs; Durables costs; Equipment availability; Technology update risk to ensure equipment provided is maintained at the original level of technology provided; Management of equipment; Equipment obsolescence.
When will equipment be replaced?
Equipment will be replaced according to known and agreed lifecycles. In existing operational contracts, lifecycles have been based on those recommended by professional bodies such as the Royal College of Radiologists.
How will equipment be chosen?
Equipment provision is based upon clinically originated generic output specifications ranging from short summaries for simpler equipment through to comprehensive specifications for complex equipment.
We contract to deliver equipment, which in the future will be of a technologically equivalent standard to the level of equipment originally supplied. Therefore, if top of the range was delivered originally then top of the range will be delivered in the future –this will include any standard technological changes that have been included in the interim.
Will I have any input in the equipment procurement process?
SMS understands that any equipment procured for a hospital, not only has to meet an output specification, but also has to be operationally acceptable. Therefore, an equipment procurement process has been developed, which involves clinical staff in assessing that any proposed equipment meets their needs.
Am I still able to use the equipment in the same way I do at the moment? Will there be any restrictions?
SMS appreciates that the equipment included within such a service will not benefit the hospital unless it is used in such a way that enables clinical staff to be effective in the diagnosis and treatment of their patients. Therefore, when developing a solution to meet a Trust’s needs, we assess what the current requirements are and how these can be optimised with a service approach. Therefore equipment can be used in exactly the same way as current practice.
What happens to the equipment at the end of the contract?
There are a number of options for addressing this issue which include either the equipment transferring to Trust ownership or being removed by SHS at the Trust’s request. However we can also develop bespoke solutions to meet the Trust's requirements as to what they wish to happen to the equipment at the end of the contract term. All options are fully considered with the Trust during development of the service proposal, to ensure that the correct and most cost-effective solution can be adopted.
How do I ensure that SMS will maintain the equipment?
SMS will be responsible for providing equipment to agreed availability criteria. Failure to meet these performance standards will result in financial penalties. We ensure that all equipment within a Managed Technology Service is maintained according to the standards recommended by the manufacturer.
How do I make sure SMS don’t just provide cheap equipment that fails all the time?
When assessing equipment for procurement, SMS takes into account whole life costing, including the costs of maintenance, spare parts and reliability. Equipment that appears cheaper in terms of capital costs may not be best value when whole life costing is considered and therefore would not be considered as "best value" during the SMS equipment evaluation process. In addition to assessing the cost of ownership of any item, it must also be appreciated that SMS would face financial penalties if the equipment did not meet the agreed performance levels, so it would not be in their interest either to supply cheap unreliable systems.
