Did You Know 30% of Medical Equipment Goes Underused?

Info Health Solutions
6 days ago
2 min read

Hospital equipment idle due to lack of Asset Performance Management.

Did you know that up to 30% of medical equipment in hospitals and clinics goes underused or even completely unused? That means thousands—sometimes millions—are tied up in machines gathering dust while frontline teams struggle with availability, breakdowns, or duplication.

In a time where operational budgets are shrinking and patient care demands are growing, this isn’t just inefficient—it’s dangerous.

This article explores:

Why medical equipment underutilization happens
The hidden costs it creates
How Asset Performance Management (APM) helps you regain control, reduce costs, and improve decision-making.

Let’s unpack what most healthcare organizations are missing—and how you can fix it.

1.The Hidden Cost of Underutilized Medical Equipment

Problem:

Most healthcare organizations don’t have real-time visibility into how, where, or when their equipment is being used. Without that visibility, it’s easy to assume “we need more,” when the real issue is “we’re not using what we already have effectively.”

Impact:

Wasted capital investments
Equipment sitting idle while new purchases are made
Increased maintenance for unused but aging devices
Limited ROI on high-ticket machines (MRI, infusion pumps, monitors)

Solution: With Asset Performance Management, you get real-time data on equipment usage rates, location, maintenance status, and downtime. This helps you:

Identify underused assets
Reallocate resources before new purchases
Track total cost of ownership per device

Learn more about our F2 Asset Management System

2.Duplicate Purchases & Inventory Bloat

Problem:

It’s common for departments to request new machines due to unavailability—not realizing the same equipment exists in another ward or building. Lack of visibility causes duplicate purchases.

Impact:

Overstocking of similar devices
Higher storage and maintenance costs
Capital budget drained on unnecessary acquisitions

Solution: Asset Performance Management provides a centralized asset inventory. With location tagging and usage tracking, procurement teams and facility managers can make smarter, consolidated decisions.

Want to know how much you're overspending on equipment?

Get a free asset usage audit → Book a Demo

3.Maintenance Without Insight = Wasted Time

Problem: Many hospitals rely on time-based or manual maintenance schedules instead of data-driven models. This leads to over-maintaining low-use devices and under-maintaining high-use ones.

Impact:

Increased downtime during critical periods
Higher risk of failure due to wear and tear
Costly emergency repairs

Solution:

With usage-based maintenance scheduling in an APM system, you can:

Prioritize servicing based on actual use
Extend the lifespan of high-value equipment
Reduce unplanned downtime and risk

4.Missed Opportunities for Lifecycle Planning

Problem:

Without analytics, it’s hard to know when to replace, upgrade, or retire equipment. You risk using outdated tools or replacing assets too early.

Impact:

Reduced care quality
Higher long-term operational costs
Loss of warranty or resale value

Solution:

Asset Performance Management platforms offer predictive lifecycle insights. These reports help facilities:

Plan capital expenditures proactively
Compare similar devices for performance
Avoid “emergency” purchases

Conclusion

Medical equipment underutilization isn’t just a budgeting issue—it’s a systemic operational blind spot that affects patient care, compliance, and organizational performance.

By implementing Asset Performance Management, healthcare providers gain: