Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 16.2
Clinical engineering disaster cart.
these critical devices alarmed, with remote indica-
tion of alarms and are the alarms on emergency
power? For certain critical items what is the back
up plan. Are there additional blood refrigerators in
other areas of the hospital?
Many devices in the laboratory are interfaced or
driven by computers. Are these devices connected
to emergency power and also an uninterruptible
power supply to assure continuous operation?
Are redundant devices maintained for critical lab
studies such as basic chemistry and blood gas
studies? Are some of these devices configured
to be mobile to be relocated to patient care
areas?
Have special consideration been made on how
to support ventilator dependent patients? There are
disposable ventilators available which may provide
clinical staff time to determine a clinical course.
These disposable ventilators are only of value if
respiratory therapy staff have worked with them
and they are available for immediate patient use.
This is especially true with some of the potential
bioterrorism concerns.
It is not nice to think about, but has the hospital
and the community developed a mortuary plan?
Is the hospital morgue deceased holding area on
emergency power? What options are available?
How many deceased patients can the hospital
manage easily? These are all questions that require
consideration.
In the surgical suite, how are spare medical
gasses provided? How are instruments sterilized?
In some hospitals, there are flash steam steril-
izers connected to a self-contained steam boiler
on emergency power to assure some minimal
level of steam sterilization. Are the central sterile
processing area lights and support equipment on
emergency power?
Radiology is a key component of most patients
diagnostic testing. With the advent of PACS and
other digital systems, it is critical to assure that
patients can be treated independent of the IT
infrastructure and network functionality. In some
