instrument inventory list
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I am looking for ideas on how to keep track of equipment (glucose meters) that are in inventory or have been returned and replaced by the vendor.
Our hospital has 280+ glucose meters in inventory. The vendor contract says that we purchased 300+ meters. I am sure over time some of these have been lost but we have no way of tracking them.
In the near future we are switching meters and looking for a ways to keep track of inventory.
What works best for you?
Thanks!
Shea
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Hi Shea,
I have RALS and all glucose meters and their serial numbers are listed in there along with the unit they are assigned to. Any meters that were sent back/replaced are under the 'restore' tab. There isn't anyway to print that list out but if the vendor gives you a serial number you can reference that list to see if it was sent back. Of course we only have 59 meters so 'easy' for me to say. :)
We also have a corrective action log for every piece of equipment where we document any calls to tech support, date, time, the issue and how it was resolved, who we spoke to and the case file number. Not as easy to go through as RALS but I have used it a time or two.
RALS came in handy recently with Siemens and EPOC. We called in for a new battery for the host and they said that serial number wasn't covered in our service agreement. I sent them a list of all my EPOCs and their serial numbers and told them to figure it out. I'm sure our contract covers all of our meters. Why would it not? Still haven't heard back. Did I mention this is the second time they have told me that?
Hope this helps and good luck with your switch!
Lois Snider
lois.snider@stclair.org
We have an excel file with a tab for each site and every meter listed. Then we have a tab for returns, so when one is returned we take it off the site list and move it to the return list. We have nova glucometers so we also use novanet to check on meters that haven't been docked, which can help when they are missing. Oh, and we have telcor so we update that whenever there is a return also. Good luck. Its one of those never ending battle things!
Was also use RALS for 200 meters. Every meter has an assigned location and download location so you can see if they ever move around. Meters that haven't connected in a while we will call the department to see if they have lost the device. Most of the time they just forgot to put on the charging dock. Meters sent to the vendor can be removed from the list and restored when they are returned.
Where do I get RALS?
Hi Linda,
RALS is a data management and connectivity program for POC similar to Telcor. You can check it out at www.RALS.com.
Let me know if you have any questions. I've had it for 12 years.
Lois.snider@stclair.org
412-942-3827
Hi Linda,
I've been a long time RALS user and love it. It's made my job so much easier and efficient. Your best bet is to send an email to Steve Valorz (steve.valorz@abbott.com) with your contact information and he can make sure the right person gets in touch with you or if you can send me your contact information I'll get to my RALS rep and they can follow up with you. In the meantime, if you have any questions about RALS, don't hesitate.
RALS makes our lives 100% easier and organized as we have over 460 devices interfaced to RALS. We are on our last instrument to be interfaced and that is the Clinitek Status with connect plus. Our operators and my POCT staff are loving the scan only and the elimination of all paper patient and QC logs. It is all scan only and locked down now that it is on RALS.
Good luck!
JoAnn
RALS ...Alere...Abbott.. (they are now Abbott) I just went to a seminar last month that RALS put on in Princeton, NJ- excellent venue and lots of useful information! I love working w/ the RALS team and how well it manages my devices!
Beth, I agree. I also attended the user group (held in Houston) and it was excellent. That my hospital lab does not keep up in updating (the free!) versions is not the fault of RALS/Abbott.
One thing that I'll note probably off topic but I didn't clue in until it happened to me...I was trying to avoid clinic end users/operators scanning an incorrect patient ID barcode. The RALS tech I had met during the end user group had given me her cell#. She was so patient and we went through the setup 3 times to be sure I was typing the mask perfectly. It should have worked. It didn't. She said not all meters/devices using RALS can make use of all the bells and whistles that are available in RALS.
There are terrific Telcor folks (I don't use Telcor) that I've met at AACC - so good people at both companies. It's difficult to make the decision of which middleware to choose but with this last 'lightbulb moment' - it also will open up questions I'd have when deciding on a new device/meter/instrument that will be connected through the middleware.