ACROMED HEALTHCARE Technologies Limited
How to extend the life and reliability of your devices
Proper maintenance keeps your equipment safe, accurate, and available when you need it.
Medical equipment represents a significant investment for any healthcare facility. Whether you run a small clinic with a single vital signs monitor or a large hospital with dozens of devices across multiple departments, regular maintenance is essential to protect that investment and ensure patient safety. Equipment that is not properly maintained can produce inaccurate readings, fail unexpectedly during critical procedures, or pose safety risks to patients and staff.
A well-structured maintenance programme combines daily care by your clinical team with periodic professional servicing by qualified biomedical engineers. This guide covers the essential maintenance tasks for common types of medical equipment, with practical tips that your team can implement immediately.
Most equipment failures start with small issues that go unnoticed. Simple daily checks by nursing and clinical staff can catch these issues early. For patient monitors and vital signs devices, wipe down all surfaces with a disinfectant wipe approved for medical equipment at the start of each shift. Check that all cables and sensors are intact without cracks, fraying, or exposed wires. Verify that the monitor powers on correctly and the screen displays clearly with no dead pixels or dimming. Run a quick functional test — take a blood pressure reading on yourself or a colleague to confirm the NIBP function works, and check SpO2 by placing the probe on your own finger to verify the reading is within normal range.
For laboratory analysers, visual inspection is the first line of defence. Check reagent levels and expiry dates before starting daily work. Verify that sample probes and needles are clean and free of blockages. Inspect waste containers and empty them before they overflow. Run the manufacturer-recommended daily controls or quality checks before processing patient samples. If the controls are out of range, do not run patient tests until the issue is resolved.
Weekly checks should include reviewing equipment alarm settings to confirm they are configured correctly for your patient population. Check battery charging function on portable devices — a monitor that does not hold charge may fail during patient transport. Inspect all filters (such as those on oxygen concentrators and anaesthesia machines) and clean or replace them according to the manufacturer's schedule. For X-Ray and imaging equipment, verify that image quality remains consistent and that there are no artefacts or degradation indicating a developing fault.
Monthly checks are more thorough. Test all backup batteries by running the device on battery power until it reaches low-battery warning, then recharge fully. Inspect all wheels and castors on mobile equipment for smooth movement and locking brake function. Check electrical plugs, cables, and power cords for damage or overheating signs. Review the equipment log or usage history for any recurring error messages or alarms that may indicate an intermittent problem. Lubricate mechanical parts such as centrifuge lids and autoclave door hinges according to manufacturer specifications.
Some issues require a qualified biomedical engineer and should never be handled by untrained staff. These include internal component failures such as power supply issues or main board faults, calibration drift where readings are consistently outside acceptable ranges, software or firmware problems that cause the device to crash or behave erratically, physical damage from drops, spills, or power surges, and safety concerns including electrical leakage, unusual smells, or overheating. Attempting to repair these issues internally can void the warranty, cause further damage, and create safety hazards for both the person performing the repair and future patients.
ACROMED offers scheduled preventive maintenance visits as part of our maintenance contracts, as well as on-call repair services for urgent issues. During a preventive maintenance visit, our engineer performs a comprehensive inspection, cleaning, calibration verification, software updates if applicable, and replacement of worn components. We provide a detailed service report documenting the work performed and any recommendations for future attention.
The most effective approach to equipment maintenance is a written schedule that assigns specific tasks to specific staff members and tracks completion. We recommend creating a simple log book or digital tracker for each device with columns for daily checks, weekly checks, monthly checks, and professional service dates. Assign responsibility clearly — for example, the charge nurse on each shift is responsible for daily checks, the department head is responsible for weekly checks, and the facility's biomedical engineering team or external service provider handles monthly checks and professional servicing. Keep a record of every service visit, repair, and part replacement for each device. This history helps identify recurring problems and supports warranty claims and budgeting for replacement equipment.
If you would like assistance setting up a maintenance programme for your facility, ACROMED offers free consultations. Our team can help you create a customised maintenance schedule for each piece of equipment in your inventory, train your staff on daily and weekly checks, and provide professional preventive maintenance services on a schedule that suits your facility. Contact us to discuss how we can support your equipment maintenance needs.