Medical Equipment Program

Information for Victorian acute public hospitals, dental services, mental health services, aged care services and services funded through the public health program for high cost medical equipment – from the Department of Human Services.

The Medical Equipment Program website also provides information on the progress of the development of the Medical Equipment Asset Management Framework (MEAMF), related media releases, and provides relevant links associated with medical equipment.

Medical Equipment Replacement Program - Funding

Funding of $145 million for the Medical Equipment Replacement Program has been provided over four years from the May 2007 State Budget to enable Health Services to replace critical high cost acute medical equipment items across the public health system, and thereby reduce risk to patients, staff, and to service availability. $40 million is allocated in 2007-08 for the 2007-08 Medical Equipment Program for medical equipment for acute services for Metropolitan and Rural Health Services and statewide Public Health equipment.

Targeted Equipment Program

Prioritised funding submissions for replacement medical equipment items for acute services were sought from Health Service under the 2007-08 Targeted Equipment Program. It was requested that items put forward should be those rated as having a combined critical risk level of 1 or 2 according to the Medical Equipment Asset Management Framework - Medical Equipment Prioritisation Self Assessment Tool. For higher cost replacement items (greater or equal to $600,000) there was an additional requirement to complete a business case template in accordance with the requirements of the Medical equipment Asset Management Framework – Medical equipment business case package.

Final allocation of the 2007-08 Targeted Equipment Program budget took into account Health Service’s priorities along with the department’s statewide priorities in determining final allocation of the program.

• Please refer to to the Media Releases section for medical equipment allocations.

Medical Equipment Asset Management Framework

The Department of Human Services is developing a Medical Equipment Asset Management Framework (MEAMF) that will enable a more strategic, comprehensive, and consistent approach to the management of medical equipment within the acute sector.  This project is being developed over a number of years.

It is anticipated that this Framework should lead to improvements in the processes of strategic medical equipment asset whole-of-life management and replacement planning (5 to 10 years), based on robust recording and information systems; and assist the department and Government in achieving improved asset management and clearer strategic, long-term planning for the replacement of equipment at the end of its “effective life”.

Using the principles and structures developed in the MEAMF project, Health Services will develop their own medical equipment asset management plans.

The MEAMF project is being developed as a response to Health Services’ requests for guidance in understanding government requirements in relation to asset management of medical equipment.  The project is a partnership between State Government and Victorian Health Services.

Contacts:

Medical Equipment Asset Management Framework: Joanne Burns, tel: (03) 9096 2644

Rural: Graeme Sheers, tel: (03) 9096 1421

Medical Equipment Program: Teresa Lodder, tel (03) 9096 2109