Our "small-town USA" hospital did, and probably still does, when
possible. A year or two ago, I chatted with an older gentleman who had
been one of the techs, there. They had a "shop" area with lots of
spiffy Tektronix and HP test equipment. Apparently, a lot of medical
equipment also needs to be regularly tested.
That's exactly right. All defibrillators have to be tested frequently
with a defibrillator tester, for function and for electrical leakage.
The same applies to any other equipment that absolutely must work when
needed. Almost all other line-powered electrical equipment has to be
tested for grounding resistance and for electrical leakage when the
ground is broken, so that electrically susceptible patients (those who
have some attachments that break the body resistance barrier, like IV
lines, EKG electrodes, whatever) don't get electrocuted. There are
instrument that do this and record the data just by plugging in the
device to be tested and pushing a button.
Also, even if a particular piece of medical equipment isn't
modularized to enable local repair, the users are like other equipment
users, so someone who knows equipment has to decide whether something
really needs repair or replacement or if the user needs to be
instructed in proper use.
I think all hospitals have to do this, either with in-house people or
with a contractor, in order to pass JCAHO accreditation.
