what interval loaned and hired out medical equipment does your organisation test equipment ?
What do you determine a short term loan and a long term loan ? ( a piece of string springs to mind )
Based on our standard AS/NZS 3551:2012
8.3 HIRE OR LOAN FROM THE RESPONSIBLE ORGANIZATION
Medical equipment that is part of a ‘pool’ of equipment owned and maintained by the
responsible organization and provided to a patient for use in the home presents challenges
to management, particularly in terms of ready access to undertake performance verification
activities. Nonetheless it shall, as far as practical, undergo performance verification in the
same manner as medical equipment that is part of the normal inventory of the system.
AS/NZS 3551:2012
Medical equipment utilized in the home is exposed to wear and tear and abuse (from
children, pets, etc.) often in excess of that within a clinical setting. It is operated in an
environment that may be quite variable in many respects, and is used by individuals that
may not be trained health care professionals and that may not have ready and immediate
access to technical support or advice.
To accommodate this, the responsible organization and/or service entity shall develop
appropriate protocols and procedures, taking into account local circumstances, available
access to the loan medical equipment, etc., to ensure integrity and safety of the medical
equipment is not compromised.
When provided for short term use outside of the electrically protected patient areas of the
responsible organization, all Class I medical electrical equipment shall be powered from an
inline 10ma Type 1 RCD. For all long term use the medical equipment shall only be used in
areas that comply with AS/NZS 3003.
the following documents are referred to in this Standard:
AS/NZS 3760 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment which refers to loan / hire equipment being tested every 3 months although not stating medical devices.
