June 27, 2023 : 3 min read
Imaging Equipment Installation Dos and Don’ts
If you recently purchased a new to you piece of medical imaging equipment for your facility - congratulations! Now that your equipment is secure, it is time to install it.
Whether you're setting up at a new facility or undergoing construction at an existing one, following certain do's and don'ts will ensure a smooth and successful installation.
Below, we will explore essential do's and don'ts to consider when it comes to imaging equipment installation, to help set you up for success on your next imaging project.
DO:
Be Proactive in Your Planning
There are a TON of steps and details that must be taken care of before you can install your system.
First things first: creating an effective plan for installation. During this planning period, you will want to do the following:
- Create an internal installation team: there are a few key team members to involve during your installation. Radiologists, technicians, and IT members will give perspective on their needs & what will make for a functioning imaging center/room.
- Create a project timeline: keep yourself and your team out of the dark with a thorough project timeline. An installation timeline should include site preparation, delivery, installation, and testing.
- Identify utility needs: most installation projects work with facilities, maintenance, or utility providers to ensure electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and network needs are met.
Hire Qualified Contractors
Remodeling a building that will be housing sensitive medical equipment is a large job that requires a wealth of knowledge to complete. Regular contractors might not be fully up to speed on what your system requires. So, how do you hire the best team to help?
- Research, Research, Research: During your exploration stage of finding a qualified contracting team, be sure to gather recommendations, ask questions, read reviews, and don't sign on the dotted line too early.
- Look to Experience: Look for contractors who have specific experience in installing the type of system you have. This ensures they are familiar with your equipment and can handle any potential challenges that may arise.
Understand Your Contractual Responsibilities
If you purchased installation along with your equipment, chances are there’re some responsibilities that will fall within your purview. Be sure to read your contract thoroughly. You should know which portions of installation planning and execution are required of you, your staff, and your contractors.
Ask Lots of Questions
When working with so many experts, there's no reason to be confused about schedules or procedures. It's better to circulate an email or make a phone call than to make assumptions. Project managers and contractors are a wealth of information and will help you find solutions to any problems you might foresee.
DON’T:
Wait Until the Last Minute to Set up Your PACS Network
As with anything during an install, it’s a bad idea to leave PACS set up until the last minute. But why is that?
Setting up a PACS network requires some information that only your in-house IT staff will have. It’s best that they have the network ready to connect to your new imaging equipment before it delivers.
You also want to consider training for your PACS network, especially if installing in a new facility.
Schedule Patients Before the Install Is Complete
In a perfect world you could buy a system, set a date for the installation to finish, and begin scanning patients right away.
Unfortunately, things can come up. Contractors can encounter setbacks. Installers can encounter setbacks. Truckers can encounter setbacks. And, yes: YOU could even encounter a setback.
Medical imaging equipment is highly technical and highly sensitive. It sometimes takes a little extra muscle to get it to play nice. Mistakes equal delays, which equal broken schedules and upset patients. Wait to schedule patient scans until after your system is fully installed.
Ignore Requests for Information
The installation team will want to maintain regular contact with you to make sure that their questions are answered. And rightfully so - if issues arise, you are the facility expert and should be able to jump in and help should bumps in the road come up.
Make yourself available to hear these questions and respond to them accordingly. Doubts and delayed answers to questions can very easily derail an install project.
The Takeaway
Save yourself time and money by having a detailed installation plan for your imaging equipment. Of course, the above is not a full-proof plan and does not guarantee a perfect installation process. But, it will help you and your facility check off some crucial boxes.
Block Imaging is ready to help with your next installation project! With a team of expert project managers, engineers, and hundreds of installs under our belt, we understand what it takes to make an installation go smoothly.
Contact our team today to talk about installation, and learn more about our commitment to providing excellent project support.
Jordan Schneider
Jordan Schneider is the Project Management Team Lead at Block Imaging. His goal is to help navigate the pitfalls of complex projects for the smoothest installations necessary. When he’s not tackling logistics, Jordan enjoys camping, fishing, and tinkering with anything mechanical.