Dear Louis
As was rightly pointed out by a previous posting people don't get electrocuted in hospitals but they do get drug overdoses or may not recieve a defib shock when needed.
Obviously Non-Critical is a bit of a misnomer. However the system was originally implemented because I ran a trial run PPM on some defibs. I was so horrified by the result that I simply commenced testing items I thought it would be dangerous NOT to check. I was (verbally) instructed to stop doing so, since the cost implications were not acceptable to the hospital.
I therefore wrote stating that I had implemented checks of "Critical" equipment and requested written instructions in order to stop that work (This was a VERY long time ago!)
Hence this little backwater has a documented 19 year history of PPMs on what I beleive are the Critical items.
The basis of the classification is therefore not formal in the manner you seem to be seeking. It depends upon an individuals exercise of common sense (mine actually).
In the event of an incident resulting in a court appearance the only real defense you have is "were your actions reasonable", not have you a sophisticated computerised scoring system to cover your arse.
A "formal" system will still require value judgements which in the end still have to be EXPLAINED. If a system is so wonderfully sophisticated that even you can't understand it then how would you ever justify it?
I doubt any of us can presently test everything.
Therefore it seems reasonable to me to regularly test those items that can immediately cause injury or death to a patient.
I understand this system and feel I can justify it.
Naturally a "Critical" list would vary according to the range of items dealt with by a bay.
Regular PPM checks are mandatory on Critical items. The priority of PPMs on those items is second only to emergency repairs to Critical items (ie it comes higher than emergencey repairs to Non-Critical items).
All the Best
Marc
