Preventive Maintenance of Medical Equipment

Preventive maintenance of medical equipment standards require that medical equipment be stored in safe environments and kept in good operating condition. To establish this precaution, the health care providers who use the equipment need to consult the manufacturer's literature and information about the product.

Use of Medical Equipment

• After you determine what must be achieved for health equipment maintenance, it is important to establish the interval of maintenance. Any specific medical equipment that is used very often must be cleaned and checked more often than items that are used less frequently. The frequency indicated in the manufacturer's manual must be used as a guide. Usually, maintenance procedures are determined depending on the machine's use.

Why Preventative Maintenance?

• Preventative maintenance is a repetitive and regular type of work performed to keep the equipment in good functioning order and to optimize the efficiency and precision of its parts. This task can involve routine cleaning, testing, calibrating, checking and, if necessary, replacement.

Cleanliness and Maintenance

• When you keep a hospital clean, you are taking measures to prevent hospital associated infections. These measures include: having hand-washing facilities, maintaining adequate isolation and ventilation for rooms and providing a safe water supply. All these measures ensure the safety of medical care, avoiding accidents and occupational diseases of hospital staff.