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Why is preventive maintenance so important for your practice? The most obvious reason is that it prevents the major failure of an important piece of medical equipment, not to mention the inconvenience and disruption it can cause.
Preventive Maintenance or “PM” service is an equipment inspection and functionality test of your equipment. It is often the best practice to have the equipment periodically serviced to avoid unexpected equipment failures. Such tests may be as simple as a functionality test, whereas other equipment may require more extensive servicing such as, lubrication of moving parts, wear part replacements (gaskets, filters, bearings), and/or extensive cleaning of vital areas of the equipment.
Medical devices that are properly maintained are not only safer for your patients, but also for you and your staff. With yearly preventative maintenance, problems can be detected early so that there is no interruption of vital services.
Routine maintenance can keep your office functioning more efficiently. Taking a proactive approach will not only save you money but my also save you the inconvenience of dealing with backordered part due to issues with the supply chain. Earlier this year simple components like oxygen regulators were backordered for more than 90 days.
Medical equipment repairs can be costly, but if the problem is diagnosed and addressed early on there is the potential to correct the problem at a fraction of the cost to repair or in extreme cases to replace a piece of equipment. On the other hand, by leaving a system without preventative maintenance, it could break down and force your office to reschedule appointments or pay the extra cost of an emergency call.
Call Anderson’s Biomedical Consulting today to discuss a preventive maintenance visit.
Ideally the anesthesia machine should be checked for leaks before every anesthetic procedure. Implementing a step by step guide ensures that no important component is missed.
(a) Inhalation and Exhalation Valve (b) Gaskets on the Absorber (c) Fresh gas line leading to the Absorber (d) Pop off or Negative Pressure Valve (e) Inlet/Outlet Ports on Vaporizer (e) Breathing Circuit
The APL Valve (Adjustable Pressure Limiting) is also known as the pop off valve
The Sodasorb typically needs to be changed every 8-10 hours of anesthesia use. At the absolute minimum it should be changed every two weeks.
Without timely replacement, your patients can be negatively impacted during surgical procedures. This includes challenges in keeping your patient under anesthesia, high levels C02, etc.
Autoclave manufacturers typically recommend that preventative maintenance be carried out every 6-12 months, depending on how frequently the autoclave is used.
At a minimum once a month or once every twenty cycles. Follow manufacturer instructions and use cleaner recommended autoclave cleaner. Do not use a commercial cleaner that contains chlorine.
Change water weekly using distilled water only. This will prevent filters and solenoid valves from becoming clogged with contaminants.
Depending on the brand of autoclave you have there are a few reasons. If you’re using a Tuttnauer autoclave your Air Jet Valve could be sticking. With a Midmark or Pelton Crane autoclave the filters could be clogged or you might have a malfunctioning solenoid valve.
Without timely replacement, your patients can be negatively impacted during surgical procedures. This includes challenges in keeping your patient under anesthesia, high levels C02, etc.
Please Note: Instruments should not be sterilized while cleaning the sterilizer!
