Summary:

The Institute recognizes the crucial nature of medical equipment used in the diagnosis and treatment of its patients. It also recognizes that such equipment must be used properly and maintained in safe and effective condition. To that end the Institute has put in place a plan and program to ensure that it makes best use of its resources.

The Clinical Director with others (may include Deputy Director for Administration, Director of Nursing, Business Officer / EOC Committee Chairman, and/or other staff as appropriate):

• Determines criteria for selecting items to be included in the  program
  • relevance of equipment to patient care
  • chance of poor clinical outcome or danger to persons or property due to malfunction or misuse
  • historical record of incidents
  • maintenance needs & repair history
  • resources available
• Based on criteria, group determines:
  • which items of equipment are included in / deleted from management program
  • which newly purchased items added
  • which existing items added due to new information or new application
  • which existing items deleted due to removal from inventory, lack of adverse history or unreasonable cost/benefit
• All Clinical Staff will be properly trained in the use of medical equipment prior to first use.
• Clinical Staff will check equipment on an ongoing basis to ensure availability and safe/effective operation.
• Clinical Staff will report defective equipment, tag and remove same from service pending repair/replacement.
  • An email-based system for receiving bio-medical equipment recall notices is maintained in the office of the EOC Committee Chairman.
• Clinical staff will report to the Environment of Care Committee on a regular basis any accidents or adverse clinical outcomes involving the use, misuse, disrepair or failure of medical equipment.
• Medical equipment items included in the program will be inspected/maintained/repaired/replaced on a scheduled basis by:
• Appropriate outside professionals under paid contract
  • Defibrillators
    EKG Units
  • ECG Units
  • Suction Units

   

  • See Service Contract file
  • See Dental Services Contract
    for Details
    
• Appropriate skilled Institute staff
  • ECT
• Items not included will be maintained/repaired/replaced on an as-needed basis by:
  • Appropriate outside professionals on a fee-for-service basis
  • Appropriate Institute staff
• The Clinical Director (with other staff) will annually review the effectiveness of the full Medical Equipment Management Program Plan and report at least annually to the EOC Committee and others as appropriate.
  The Director of the ECT Service will provide an annual report on ECT-related equipment

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