Talk with any HTM service professional and ask them what preventive maintenance (PM) procedures they follow and you are bound to get a variety of responses. Probe into the question a little deeper with them as to where they get the recommended medical device preventive maintenance reference steps and that variety of answer will probably blow up even further.
The computerized medical management system (CMMS) that a clinical engineering department may use will most likely have the “canned “American Hospital Association (AHA) or maybe the “Emergency Care Research Institute (ECRI) medical device preventive maintenance procedure tied to each respective piece of equipment. These “canned” procedures are generally basic steps to be followed as a guide when preforming preventative maintenance. These basic and generic procedures designed along similar device types are to be used as a reference not a substitution for a specific device’s original equipment manufacturer (OEM) preventative maintenance recommended protocol.
In speaking with the HTM community from time to time there is a clear disparity in opinion mainly with biomedical designated devices as to what and which preventative maintenance procedures should be followed. This week’s blog rant is not to polarize camps as much as tell the story that continues to exist today even after the most recent “CMS letter of clarification”. The HTM service community is still following many varied genres of “PM procedures” for like devices throughout the U.S. healthcare industry. Consistency of processes is still afar in standard from shop to shop.
This topic of preventive maintenance procedures and which are to be followed is still viewed as “gray area” by some but not all. Following the OEM’s stated and FDA approved service manual scripted procedures will definitely not steer you wrong from a legality perspective. From a HTM service community point of view there are many passionate feelings that lend to site preferred or maybe even some trending experiences that should be followed. As for me, I would follow the path of least resistance and clear understanding. Just a parallel thought, if the government approved stated speed limit were 55 miles per hour then that is what I would drive and avoid the risk of getting ticketed for exceeding the limit. You now know what medical device maintenance procedures I would follow.
