scope:

This standard is intended to provide basic information to health care technology management (HTM) professionals by identifying and describing in general various maintenance strategies and methods for efficient, effective, and timely maintenance of medical equipment in health care facilities. The standard neither mandates nor requires that any of these specific strategies be used, but instead discusses in general the uses of these methods and their potential advantages and disadvantages.

Inclusions

This standard identifies general maintenance strategies and procedures that might be incorporated into a medical equipment management plan.

Exclusions

This standard does not cover other components of a medical equipment management plan (see ANSI/AAMI EQ56). It does not identify device-specific maintenance strategies, nor does it address all applicable regulations from national, state, or local AHJs that must be followed.

NOTE-For example, at the time this standard was approved, hospitals and critical access hospitals participating in Medicare or Medicaid were required by CMS to adhere to manufacturer's recommendations for all imaging and radiologic equipment; for medical laser devices; and for new equipment for which insufficient maintenance history is available.