Medical equipment is prosthetic devices used by healthcare professionals and patients for diagnosis, anomalies correction and testing for defects and mal-functionalities in human bodies. They come in different sizes, makes and forms, and they are indispensable apart from a few which are patient-friendly. Different departments deal with different patient care needs in both outpatients and inpatients, working using different instruments and devices to diagnose, treat, perform minor and major surgeries, different diseases and treat many other various conditions presented to them by patients. Using medical equipment is expensive and shoots considerably the patient’s hospital bill. Being expensive, therefore, calls for procurement of this equipment from trusted and seasoned manufacturers and suppliers with a track record in the medical equipment field. Otherwise, a facility will risk if they bought cheap generic equipment on the patient’s life and wastefulness.
Types of Medical Equipment
There is a variety of medical equipment:
- Diagnostic equipment which comprises of imaging machines in the medical field used to assist in treating diseases or diagnosis. Some examples include; ultrasound & MRI equipment, PET & CT scanning machines, and the X-ray. There is diagnosis equipment that may be used at home to control diabetes mellitus.
- The treatment equipment; like infusion pump, LASIK minor or major surgical machine, and medical lasers. Life-support machine which used for organ functionality maintenance; they include medical ventilators, anaesthetic machines, incubators, heart and lungs machine, dialysis machines, and ECMO.
- Medical monitors which allow medical specialists to measure patient’s medical sate; medical monitors measure parameters in a patient like; ECG, blood pressure and EEG.
- Medical lab equipment is devices that automate blood tests, urine tests, gene tests and gasses dissolved in blood cells.
- Therapeutic equipment implies physical exercise machines that produce a standard passive motion continuously on (CPM).
Operation of Medical Equipment
Medical equipment are operated by a medical professional who specialises in medical equipment only called Biomedical Technician (BMET). He/she is a pivotal component in the healthcare system. BMET is a professional hired by the medical facility to take care of and maintain the facility’s equipment. BMET normally acts as an interface between the equipment and a specialised doctor.
Medical Equipment Cleanliness
Medical device cleanliness is critical, considering the adverse implications that may be caused by unsterile equipment shipped in large quantities and different countries. Therefore it is advisable to observe the highest standards of cleanliness beginning from the manufacturer the medical device professionals. Manufactures should subject medical devices to the established test methods and standard guides and documentations among other standards stipulated in ASTM standards. Since 2000, there has been standard practice for reporting and assessing residue on single implants and a standard guide for cleaning processes during the manufacturing of medical devices. Besides, cleaning of reusable equipment has raised a lot of concerns leading to the rise of a series of standards to ensure safety for both the patient and the healthcare givers. For example, a standard test method- determines the effectiveness of the cleaning process on reusable types of equipment and medical instruments and standard guide for blood cleaning using detergents.
Medical Equipment Identification
Medical equipment identification was recently improved to Unique Device Identification (UID) and naming using a standardised method called (IMDRF) the International Medical Device Regulatory.
Medical facilities in Australia or outside, which require medical equipment are free to procure medical equipment online or physically from medical equipment suppliers in Queensland. These manufacturers have quality checks and have been in business for a long time hence reliable.
