Required Annual Testing and Services of Biomedical Equipment
There are specific requirements for medical equipment services that must be performed each year or at specific intervals. The regulations that govern annual testing and services come from both the healthcare industry and the United States Government. Medical office managers and hospital administrators should be well versed in the requirements for the type of equipment that they are responsible for, including annual testing for medical gas and vacuum systems, as well as services to calibrate cp150 resting ECG equipment. Whatever your staff and patients rely on for quality care, treatment, and services, it needs to be inspected, tested, maintained and operated using safe practices.
What is Included in Annual Testing and Services?
When it comes to medical equipment servicing, annual testing and services is a fundamental legal obligation for physicians, clinics, and hospitals. Annual safety and performance testing, as well as annual calibrations according to the manufacturer’s requirements, are essential to ensure that our clients are compliant with NFPA code 99 (NFPA 99) standards, as well as other government and industry regulations. NFPA 99 is an established set of criteria that is used for healthcare services and systems based upon the risk that is posed to the staff, patients, and other visitors at the facility. The goal is to minimize hazards, such as fire or electrical injuries.
Various requirements exist based on the type of equipment, how and where the equipment is used, and other variables. These standards are designed to address such issues as the installation of the equipment, inspections, testing, ongoing maintenance, performance, and safe practices. This is for all types of facilities, including doctor’s offices, dental practices, clinics, surgical centers, specialists, and hospitals. These regulations are required for all materials, equipment, and appliances, including medical gas and vacuum systems. Stat Bio-Medical Sales & Service is certified to perform annual testing and services for all of the major industry brand names and equipment. We can help our clients calibrate cp150 resting ECG equipment, provide medical equipment servicing for autoclaves, and offer extra services to ensure compliance, such as reupholster medical exam tables.
NFPA 99 Testing and Maintenance
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) code 99 standards establish a criterion that require all new electrical appliances and equipment that come into a patient care facility of any kind to undergo ongoing testing and equipment throughout its lifetime. Any equipment that is deemed to be experimental, built-to-order, or is still in the developmental phase, must also meet a degree of safety that is equivalent to the NFPA 99 standards. This requirement includes all appliances, machines, and equipment that are used for patient care, whether they are permanently connected and installed or portable that can be transported or conveyed for patient purposes.
Safety inspections are also required for the cord and measurement of ground-wire resistance for any electrical appliances or equipment used within the patient care area of the facility. These annual testing and services include how the equipment performs, which meter should be used, and how frequently medical equipment servicing and testing should be provided. The responsibilities of NFPA 99 belong to the administrator or manager of the facility. Policies and protocols must be established regarding biomedical equipment within the facility. Ongoing reporting and inspections are part of the compliance, which is used to identify which equipment requires ongoing testing, calibration, inspection, and servicing. Record-keeping requirements for NFPA 99 and other government and healthcare industry regulations can be grueling, demanding a lot of time to ensure accuracy of documentation.
How Stat Bio-Medical Sales & Service Can Help
The services that we provide our clients for all types of required annual testing and services, as well as ongoing medical equipment servicing, are designed to exceed the standards required by these government and industry regulations. We work to exceed all standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Joint Commission (JC), and the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) in addition to NFPA 99. Our Client Access Portal is an essential tool that helps our clients with record-keeping, documentation, and reminders about required services. To learn more about these services or to speak with a representative about signing up for our certified biomedical equipment service program, give us a call toll-free at 1-877-995-1117.