No longer are there questions about “what should be tested?” or
“how often should this be tested?”
CMS Guidelines
On December 2, 2011 CMS issued a memo to its surveyors that in certain situations hospitals can perform preventive maintenance on non-critical equipment less often than recommended by the manufacturer based on a risk assessment. Critical equipment is not included in this memo. CMS then released its interpretive guide 482.41.(c)(2) … if the hospital is adjusting maintenance activity frequencies below those that are recommended by the manufacturer, such adjustments must be based upon a systematic evidence-based assessment…
GasMedix testing program
GasMedix has done the work for the hospital…. by developing a risk based testing program that meets all of the above requirements as well as previous versions of NFPA 99. The method employs predictive and reliability testing measures tied to a risk assessment matrix in an algorithm that calculates testing frequencies. This method provides greater reliability and reduced cost. Savings of 25% can be achieved immediately while improving reliability in high use areas. Savings and reliability continue to improve in subsequent years.
