Investigation of Anesthesia Equipment Checkout Procedures. Final Report

摘要

The purpose of the study was to determine the extent to which anesthesia clinicians are routinely performing a pre operative machine check utilizing either the FDA checklist or any other. The study also sought to determine the preventative maintenance and calibration practices in both hospitals and free standing surgery centers. Documented practices concerning in-service education relating to anesthesia machines and associated monitors were also reviewed. A total of 23 hospitals and seven surgery centers were visited. These facilities represented a cross section of the surgical facilities across the state. Hospital size varied from 60 to 860 beds and represented all types of ownership and control. The seven surgery centers visited constituted 58% of the free standing surgery centers in the state. The study found that, while 77% of the facilities had a documented policy regarding the used of a checklist or checkout procedure, practice did not necessarily follow policy as only 27% of the facilities actually used a checklist while performing a machine check. Similar results were found in the area of documented continuing education relating to anesthesia machines and related monitors.