Title: The issue of unplanned stoppages caused by failure in medical technology equipment – A study within the hospital of Kalmar with a focus on manage-ment, security and quality Author: Anna Förster, Ambika Linder, Sandra Nyqvist Tutor: Thomas Karlsson Institution: Linnaeus School of Business and Economics - Linnaeus University Kalmar Date: 2011-01-14 Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine unplanned stoppages caused by medical technology equipment failure in the healthcare operation within the hospital of Kalmar. Our study is based on a number of specifically selected incidents which show the consequences these disruptions cause in management, security and quality within the operation. Our intention was also to examine what role the medical technology department of the hospital plays in the care production operation during these unplanned stoppages. Method: Through a qualitative study we have generated material from a number of interviews with staff working in the hospital of Kalmar. These interviews have given us a deeper perspective of a number of cases that we have chosen to study more closely and which relate to unavailable medical technology equipment. The interviewed respondents have contributed with their knowledge about the current incidents. From a hermeneutical interpretive perspective we have based on knowledge received about the subject, connected the collected empirics with our theoretical frame of reference. Conclusion: We see that management is affected negatively in situations where medical technology equipment has been unavailable, because of an ineffective use of resources in terms of rooms, equipment and personnel. In the cases studied we consider patient security to be relatively good. Nevertheless, the quality within the hospital of Kalmar is affected negatively during these unplanned stoppages, due to service dissatisfaction among some of the patients. Finally we conclude that care staff show a good level of confidence in the medical technology department as a support function and that their availability is highly appreciated. Keywords: Medical technology equipment, unplanned stoppage, maintenance, management, security, quality