Deployment and testing of an automated medical equipment service communication and documentation system at a rural hospital in Kenya

BACKGROUND: The Medical Equipment Network Documentation System (MENDS) provides a simple communication network for equipment servicing from failure to restoration. It is a text messaging-based platform, designed to use existing technologies in place in low- and middle-income settings. The system gathers and relays information about equipment service requests and reports and automatically saves them to an online database. METHODS: MENDS was deployed at a high volume, rural, charity medical facility in Kijabe, Kenya for a 3-mo pilot test. RESULTS: The results show MENDS more than tripled documentation and enhanced ease and speed of communication. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive data provided by MENDS created more accurate measures of equipment performance, which can be used to decrease the time that equipment is out of service and improve the efficiency of repairs, equipment quality and procurement.