The following company description first appeared in TechNation Magazine and is by EQ2 CEO Joe Eichberger:
EQ2’s HEMS® CMMS has been used exclusively by healthcare clients for over 25 years. We do not market to, nor do we intend to offer our CMMS product to other markets. We believe the healthcare market needs are sufficiently unique that any CMMS offering sold in multiple markets will be a compromised product. HEMS is designed to help manage compliance with accrediting agencies, to help with an Alternative Equipment Management (AEM) Program, to provide an integrated tool for keeping track of manufacturers’ notices and recalls, for helping assure that hospital processes are defined and adhered to, for improving productivity and for benchmarking a hospital’s own performance over time. All of these tools help to improve patient outcomes while helping to run a cost-effective, efficient operation. Our reporting and dashboard tools provide HTM management with the metrics they need to not only document and show their efficacy, but to help them continuously improve their operations. Finally, our system is easy to use – based on the feedback we have received from our customers.
There are only a few CMMS products that are solely healthcare market focused. And not all of these offer both a client server and cloud-based solution. Some newcomers like to champion their “no legacy” roots, but what they fail to note is they also have no scar tissue, and know little about the hospital environment. We are not the largest player in the hospital market, just the best. We are growing nicely and always put our client’s needs first.
About five years ago, HEMS became available on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. Our setup people are experts in working with the client’s IT staff to set up Active Directory in any of its flavors, and for managing mobile users.
The Unique Architecture of HEMS
The architecture behind EQ2’s HEMS CMMS is designed with the focused purpose of meeting our hospital clients’ needs. Our family of products provides flexibility for our clients. One service area such as HTM can get started and others such as Facilities, Support Services, EVS, IT, Supply Chain, etc. can be added later if desired.
Technicians are able to more efficiently and more easily complete work using our mobile app: HEMS Remote. This app downloads all current work orders while connected and then when the technician goes to a location or part of a hospital that lacks connectivity, he/she still accesses all of those same work orders in their entirety and updates just as when connected. Once connected again, those updates are synced to the HEMS CMMS. A wizard-like interface and use of the device’s camera for photo attachments and scanning barcodes truly makes for a complete approach to addressing work orders.
We have established connective services with many healthcare affiliated vendors such as ServiceNow, ECRI, OneSOURCE, PartsSource, Glassbeam and RTLS providers. HEMS interfaces directly with a number of medical testers including Fluke, Datrend and Rigel. We have effected other interfaces with various software providers as needed by our individual hospital clients and will continue to release new interfaces as our users may need. For example, ZingBox enables network scans for threats and devices to be flagged; the data retrieved will then populate IT fields.
Since HEMS has its own platform, we are able to modify the architecture to meet the needs of hospitals as they arise in the future. This assures HEMS will continue to be a robust 21st century solution.
Powerful Data Tools
We have certain reports and dashboards that are specifically designed for helping the HTM team stay in compliance and for documentation required by regulators and for the Environment of Care (EOC) committee meeting. Specifically, our AEM dashboard is lauded by customers for its powerful ability to guide management of the program device by device.
Another product – the HEMS Performance and Benchmarking Analyzer (PBA) – unleashes the power of data in new ways to take the HTM department to the next level. First, our Implementation Team will analyze the current data in a hospital’s existing CMMS to identify potential issues and work with the hospital to standardize and clean it, if necessary. Using best practices means that the data will be consistent and feed dashboards and reports that are accurate and meaningful which leads to good decision making.
As KPIs and trends in our dashboards and reports emerge, opportunities for benchmarking and continuous improvement abound. The department’s strengths and ever-improving performance can also be showcased to upper management.
The Future
EQ2 is the pioneer in “Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise Patient Care Device” (IHE PCD) and is the only CMMS vendor to successfully test the integrations with vendors like GE, Philips, Baxter, Smiths Medical, etc. at the IHE Connectathon. Now, EQ2 is in a position to utilize volumes of data from these smart and connected devices while creating an AI system that will analyze this data to help provide better equipment replacement planning. It will have real device utilization pattern reports and error reports. HEMS will also be able to provide suggestions on which model is safe, reliable and has the lowest total cost of ownership.
Another example of AI (and machine learning) is our new interface with Glassbeam. Potential issues with devices are identified before a failure or other concern occurs. Other ways that CMMS can learn from the constant flow of data coming in for predictive maintenance is by analyzing new kinds of data that testers and devices will be providing in the future.
Choosing a CMMS
Our clients include small specialty clinics, large hospitals as well as multi-hospital institutions. This, combined with over 25 years of best practice design and development, assures our customers achieve quality improvement and a quantifiable return on the investment they made in selecting and using the HEMS software. With HEMS you have the opportunity to choose a proven hospital product on the leading edge of technology, developed and supported by experienced professionals.
History and More Info
Our reputation for excellent service started in 1983 with the creation of HEMS® (Hospital Equipment Management System) as a collaborative effort of the University of Vermont, ASHE (American Society for Healthcare Engineering), and the Kellogg Foundation. Then in 1993, EQ2 was created to manage the continued growth of HEMS and all of its associated products. In 2013, EQ2 was acquired by AMT Datasouth – a company that provides customized patient wristband and label solutions for hospitals as well as software for downtime patient admittance and administration.
The foundational program of HEMS, which was developed in a hospital, changed the industry because it was developed specifically for hospital needs. Since then we have constantly improved it to meet the evolutionary needs of the hospital.
Our success is closely tied to meeting professionals in their place of business to deliver on the unquestionable urgency that comes with healthcare management. We have reviewed, developed and expanded our offerings to assist hospital facility managers and equipment professionals in a variety of institutions.
We attribute our success to continually evolving, expanding and learning from our clients. Additionally we continue to expand our offerings to embrace new technologies and challenges. For a full scope of our product offerings, see our Biomedical and Facilities product pages.
Our software and service solutions are used by hundreds of hospitals of all sizes.
We provide our clients with systems and services that assist their equipment professionals in providing a safe and efficient environment of care. We help you manage customer and equipment care while exceeding regulatory requirements.
Our clients include small specialty clinics, large hospitals as well as multi-hospital corporations. EQ2 utilizes the most stable and advanced Microsoft technologies for the Web, Mobile and Wireless, combined with over 25 years of best practice design and development effort, to help our customers achieve quality improvement and a quantifiable return on the investment they made in EQ2.
We take an Organizational Approach to Your Systems
Your hospital relies on your ability to deliver outcomes in a safe and effective environment of care. Our mission is to help you succeed, so you can offer the best service possible.
We can help analyze your organizational processes to identify areas for potential breakdowns. This includes everything from identifying maintenance needs for facility equipment, clarifying interdepartmental communications, and helping to interconnect with smart instruments and testers. Our job is to help you make your CMMS hone in the systems and utilities that deliver results.
Our Customers Save Millions in Time and Expenses
Our customers are some of our greatest advocates, and they subscribe to each of our updates because we make it easy for them to not only keep their operations at a high level, but to actually improve and perfect them. To check out some customer testimonials, click here.
Partners
As part of the community that is expanding and improving healthcare delivery around the world, EQ2 is proud to be a member of the following dynamic leaders in the healthcare community. Through our associations with these organizations, EQ2 learns much about what is needed, what is new and how to deliver excellence.
IHE (Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise)
IHE is an initiative by healthcare professionals and industry to improve the way computer systems in healthcare share information. IHE promotes the coordinated use of established standards such as DICOM and HL7 to address specific clinical needs in support of optimal patient care. Systems developed in accordance with IHE communicate with one another better, are easier to implement, and enable care providers to use information more effectively.
EQ2 is working with IHE (Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise) to automate the process of live device communication and is using HL7 based IHE PCD profiles to get the information from smart devices and RTLS systems. In Last year’s HIMSS and in January 2015, EQ2 was the only CMMS vendor to demonstrate and have interconnectivity with all the major medical device manufacturers. EQ2 passed the tests for interconnectivity using IHE PCD profiles (DEC, ACM, IPEC, MEMDMC, and MEMLS) at the IHE NA Connectathon 2015 in Cleveland.
TSP Healthcare
TSP is an EQ2 authorized distributor and value-added reseller of HEMS for Maine, Vermont, New York and New Hampshire.
Total Solution Partners is focused on developing solutions that optimize organizational performance and positions them for sustainable future success. They specialize in managing technologies for safety, cost effectiveness, quality, and regulatory.
TSP is a valued distributor for the Vermont and northern New England region. Through its efforts, hospitals maximize the benefits they receive from technology while minimizing the costs.
QRS Calibrations – Medical Equipment Calibration Experts
QRS Calibrations, Inc. specializes in servicing the medical industry in calibrations and metrology services as well as providing patient monitoring and telemetry installation, repair and maintenance. We also support our customers with both New and Used Medical and Electrical Test Equipment and Medical Devices and accessory sales. With over 10 years of working with hospitals, manufacturers, and supporting companies we strive to provide our customers with excellent products and services. Mission: To aide our customers with precision calibrations, to provide innovative products and support the Biomeds / Clinical Engineers in any way possible.
Today, biomedical personnel must meet increasing regulatory pressures, higher quality standards, and rapid technological growth, while performing their work faster and more efficiently than ever. QRS stands behind you, ready to provide a whole range of software and hardware tools to meet today’s challenges.
Microsoft Certified Silver Partner
Microsoft works to help people and businesses throughout the world realize their full potential. This is our mutual mission for your business. Everything we do reflects this mission and the values that make it possible. EQ2 is a Certified Silver Microsoft Partner.
Association Affiliations
EQ2 is a key member of the growing worldwide community whose mission is the improvement and extension of healthcare delivery. We at EQ2, are proud of our memberships in several important organizations that are devoted to improving health care and supporting profitable medical enterprises. These include several HTM (Healthcare Technology Management) and healthcare engineering (facilities) associations throughout the country. Here are but a few:
AAMI (Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation)
The AAMI is dedicated to increasing the understanding, safety, and efficacy of medical instrumentation. EQ2 is a corporate member of AAMI, and EQ2’s personnel have served on the AAMI Equipment Management Committee. Please note that AAMI does not endorse any products or services.
ASHE (American Society for Healthcare Engineers)
An association of diverse professionals dedicated to bringing about continuing improvements in the health care environment through advocacy, education, broadcasting of information, and collaboration among medical organizations and enterprises.
CMIA (California Medical Instrumentation Association)
EQ2 is a Corporate member of many state and local associations as well. The California Medical Instrumentation Association (CMIA) is one of them.
The California Medical Instrumentation Association (CMIA) is dedicated to the promotion, education and information exchange of the state’s clinical biomedical engineering community. The major instruments for achieving these goals are monthly chapter meetings, the annual awards banquet and technical workshop and this web site.
The California Medical Instrumentation Association was founded and incorporated in 1992. The CMIA is a thriving state wide non-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs of the biomedical community and profession through seven local chapters.