HospitalInspections.org

Based on observation, review of facility equipment lists, review of equipment calibrations and safety checks and staff interview; the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) failed to provide preventive maintenance for 6 of 17 randomly observed pieces of medical equipment (stress test equipment - equipment that is used to provide information about how the heart responds to exertion and to test for heart disease; EKG machine - electrocardiogram machine checks for electrical activity of the heart and can help find the cause of symptoms such as thumping heart or chest pain; 3 electrical stimulation machines - this machine produces an electrical current that is used in physical therapy to treat pain, inflammation, muscle spasm, healing skin incisions, healing bone fractures, and enhancing delivery of medication through the skin; and, ultrasound machine - a machine used by physical therapist that uses sound waves to generate heat within a body part to help treat injuries). The CAH identified 225 pieces of medical equipment. This failed practice has the potential to affect all patients of the CAH.

Findings are:

A. During tour of the Specialty Clinic area with the Specialty Clinic Manager on 6/22/16 from 3:00 PM to 3:45 PM revealed a room with a treadmill and computer monitor for stress test. The computer monitor had a white tag that documented the last preventive maintenance was in 2011. Interview with Cardiac Rehabilitation Manager 6/22/16 at 3:35 PM revealed "thought contract with the company doing the preventive maintenance on this machine expired in 2012".

Further tour of the Specialty Clinic with the Specialty Clinic Manager revealed a procedure room that contained an EKG machine that had no facility equipment number or sticker indication when preventive maintenance had last been completed. Interview with the Specialty Clinic Manager on 6/22/16 at 3:40 PM indicated the machine was fairly new and thought it was still under warranty. Review of documents provided by the Materials Management Manager on 6/23/16 at 8:25 PM and identified as the list of new equipment since 2013 revealed no EKG machine on this list. Interview with the Materials Management Manager on 6/23/16 at 2:30 PM confirmed the EKG machine was older than one year.

B. Tour of the Physical Therapy area on 6/22/16 from 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM with the Physical Therapy Manager revealed 3 electrical stimulation machines and 1 ultrasound machine with white stickers indicating the last calibration and safety check date was 12/16/14. The Physical Therapy Manager provided a document titled Calibrations & Safety Checks. This document listed 12 pieces of equipment (including the 3 electrical stimulation machines and the ultrasound machine) indicating calibration and safety checks on 12/16/14. Interview with The Physical Therapy Manager on 6/22/16 at 3:00 PM indicated the calibration and safety checks should have been completed in December of 2016.

C. Interview with the Materials Management Manager on 6/23/16 at 2:30 PM confirmed the CAH had no policy and procedure for preventive maintenance on equipment.