Preventive Maintenance Basics for Hospital Equipment

Preventive maintenance means looking after equipment on a schedule so that problems are found before they cause a breakdown or a wrong result. It keeps equipment working, protects patients and staff, and is usually far cheaper than repairing failures.

Start with an equipment register

List every device with its name, model, serial number, location, purchase date, warranty end date and supplier. You cannot maintain what you have not listed. Add a simple asset tag to each item.

Three levels of care

• Daily or per-use checks by the operator: visual inspection, cleaning, checking cables and accessories, running a quick function test and, in laboratories, running controls.
• Scheduled maintenance by trained technicians: cleaning internal parts, replacing filters and consumable parts, checking safety features and alarms. Follow the manufacturer's recommended intervals.
• Calibration and performance checks: confirming that measurements such as speed, temperature, volume or pressure are within tolerance, using suitable reference equipment.

Keep records

• A log for every device showing each check, repair, calibration and the date.
• Faults and how they were fixed, so repeat problems can be spotted.
• Copies of service reports and calibration records in one place.

Protect equipment from the environment

• Use voltage stabilisers or UPS units where mains voltage is unreliable.
• Keep equipment away from dust, moisture and heat, and use covers when idle.
• Make sure rooms have adequate ventilation, especially for equipment that produces heat.

When to call an engineer

Stop using a device and call a qualified service engineer if it gives repeated error messages, unusual noise or smell, results that look wrong, or any sign of electrical damage. Do not open sealed equipment yourself. A written maintenance contract with a clear response time gives you a dependable route for service.

Madina Surgical Trader supplies this kind of equipment to hospitals, clinics and laboratories across Pakistan. Send us your requirements on WhatsApp and we will help you compare options.