A patient is surrounded by many electrical devices like
the heart
rate simulator. These are used to monitor the bodily vital signs and
keep track of the patient’s recovery process. In the US alone there have been
10,000 reported device related injuries with increasing use of medical
equipment and devices. The hazardous sources include electromagnetic (EM)
fields, drugs, germs, x-rays, water, and chemicals.
Considering the immense impact of these sources on
the lives and well-being of patients as well as hospital staff, there are
various codes or rules that have been established. This is needed because in
many cases, the patient cannot convey the impact of the faulty equipment and
this may have life-threatening consequences. A hospital or healthcare center
needs to be in complete compliance with these codes in order to avoid hefty
fines and penalties for non-compliance.
Adhering to standards like IEC 601.1 (International Electrochemical
Committee), NFPA 99 (Standards for healthcare facilities) and ANSI/AAMI
ESI-1993 (Safe current limits for Electromedical apparatus).
Why safety is needed?
There is a crucial objective behind
ensuring the safety of electronic equipment used in a healthcare setting. These
devices need to be free from any electrical or conduction dangers that are
posed to people in constant presence around the devices. These include the
hospital personnel, maintenance staff, as well as the patients themselves. They
may be prone to electric shocks where electricity flows through the body upon
coming in contact with the faulty or damaged electrical equipment. This may
result in injuries like burns, cardiac issues or spasms.
How to ensure safety?
The basic
safety doesn’t need a powerful solution like an electrical
safety analyzer. Some alert checks on the below can
ensure that the basics are covered. These include points like –
·
Checking plugs and cords and replacing them as needed
·
Proper connections of patient leads used on the body
·
Using only those devices that are approved after checking for electrical
safety
·
Regular check-up of the electrical compatibility of the entire
electrical system
·
Non-usage of radiofrequency appliances and devices when not needed (e.g.
smartphones)
The three key types of testing
1 – Safety
grounding and leakage testing
Electrical
leakage in the ground wire is termed as Touch Current. It is this type of
leakage that poses the greatest danger to healthcare staff as well as patients.
One of the safety tests is to check for this type of leakage and if it conforms
to the regulatory standards. Such tests are typically carried out once a year.
It is mandatory for every hospital and healthcare center to carry out these
tests and avoid harm to patient and personnel from effects of faulty grounding
like shocks. There needs to be specialized testing for all equipment that have
been hardwired into the building structure. An electrical
safety analyzer is used for testing
electrical leakage from portable equipment
2 – Ground
fault outlet testing
If a room or
area has a bathroom attached to it then its vital to check for issues with
ground fault outlet. A GFCI tester monitors the ground current at all times,
and cuts the connection if it goes beyond 6 mA.
3 – Testingfor Electrical Outlet Tension
This tests
that the patient care areas have retention force that matches the compliance
norms.
These were
the key tests that are routinely checked for during a bio-med scrutiny for
electrical safety.
