The Principles of Medical Device Decontamination

Managing Reusable Medical Devices and Green Issues

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The purpose of this chapter is to provide an oversight on the management of medical devices within an organisation, differing from Chapter 2 which covered the stages of medical device decontamination processing. This chapter includes the development of an organisational structure and system, which describes an approach to acquisition, decontamination, maintenance/servicing, disposal and staff training. Its primary focus is on reusable medical devices although the principles can also be applied to general medical equipment if required. An introduction to sustainability and green issues relating to decontamination is also provided.

Management

Healthcare organisations should appoint a director or board member with overall responsibility for medical device management, and establish a medical devices management group to develop and implement policies across the organisation. The organisations policy should define clear management responsibilities for all types of medical devices, which the group would regularly review and communicate to the wider organisation. The management structure needs to show clear lines of responsibility for every aspect of managing the different medical devices up to Board level. There should be internal systems in place to ensure reporting of device issues as well as how external alerts, including field safety notices i issued by manufacturers are circulated and actions taken. Assurance systems should include measuring the effectiveness of the medical devices management system; the condition and performance of medical devices including any device failures and issues, utilisation, performance, and maintenance; repair and calibration history, control and execution of investment and

i Field Safety Notice (FSN) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/ media/602e8d46e90e07660a5f15d4/FSNflyer.pdf

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