AAMI Calls for Collaboration on CMS Memo on Medical Devices

The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation is teaming up with the American Society for Healthcare Engineering to explore potential solutions to a federal directive on maintenance schedules for medical equipment.

CMS issued a memo on December 2011 to state survey directors on the upkeep of medical devices. It states hospitals cannot stray from the manufacturer's preventive maintenance recommendations for critical equipment. Adjustments to the preventive maintenance interval for noncritical equipment are allowed provided they are "based upon a systematic, evidence-based assessment" that confirms the change won't undermine patient and staff safety, and only if the facility has enough maintenance history on the device.

 



The memo was criticized by the healthcare technology management community, with many saying it will lead to more work hours and costs without additional benefit to the patient.

AAMI and ASHE will bring stakeholders together to facilitate development of an evidence-based response to the memo. The two groups will also partner with George Mills, head of The Joint Commission's Engineering Department, to request a meeting with top CMS officials to discuss the issue.

Related Articles on Device Safety:

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FDA Releases 2012 Goals for Device, Radiology Safety

Collaboration Aims to Track Medical Device Performance, Patient Outcomes

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