A hotly anticipated document intended to help healthcare technology management (HTM) professionals keep medical devices functioning efficiently and effectively has made its debut.
ANSI/AAMI EQ89:2015, Guidance for the use of medical equipment maintenance strategies and procedures, identifies commonly used practices. It is intended to help HTM departments standardize and document their maintenance procedures, as well as provide guidance to select the most appropriate maintenance strategy for a given type of device.
The development of EQ89 started several years ago and picked up steam after the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced in December 2011 that hospitals should adhere to the manufacturer’s recommendations on PM activities for medical equipment in almost all instances. That move ignited an uproar in the HTM community, with many professionals saying it would be impractical, expensive, and that it failed to recognize the value of some alternative strategies with a proven history of safety and success. Two years later, CMS adopted a more flexible posture, giving HTM departments some latitude in setting their maintenance activities.
As EQ89 notes, “A maintenance strategy is not a one-size-fits-all approach. HTM departments should develop a plan that will keep the devices functioning and available without expending resources unnecessarily.” However, HTM professionals should be able to provide documentation on why they have chosen certain procedures, and ensure that procedures comply with any applicable authorities having jurisdiction.
The document also advises that before any changes are made, facilities should check the maintenance recommendations of original equipment manufacturer (OEM), if they are available.
Read more about this at the AAMI website.
