Longnecker's Anesthesiology > Part 3. Safety and Risk Reduction in Anesthesia Practice > Chapter 27. Electricity, Electrical Safety, and Instrumentation in the Operating Room Robert H. Stiefel, MS and Julian M. Goldman, MD

Key Points

"1. Hazards to patients from medical equipment include fibrillation and burns, equipment failure, and misuse. Electrical safety concerns originating in the 1960s have led to the development of safety and performance standards, improved equipment designs, and in-house clinical engineering programs.

2. Medical equipment standards are promulgated by a variety of national and international organizations. Understanding and complying with these standards requires clinical engineering expertise.

3. Clinical engineering departments in hospitals help to ensure the safety and performance of medical equipment by providing evaluations, testing, maintenance, and training programs.

4. Safe and effective use of medical equipment involves the cooperation of clinicians, administrators, support staff, and manufacturers. A clinical engineer usually is best able to orchestrate these efforts.

5. A hospital-wide technology management program combines individual equipment programs and improves efficiency and quality.

..."