Severe weather-related events can have an impact on the operation of medical devices in healthcare settings and in the home. As a result, FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health decided to do a small sample survey to address how extreme weather events and conditions may affect the safety and quality of medical devices.
Survey data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire by telephone to obtain in-depth perspectives about experiences with medical devices in clinical settings during and after severe weather events.
Nine healthcare providers associated with hospitals that have had experience with severe weather events in healthcare facilities took part in the survey. Respondents included Directors and Managers from Departments of Clinical and Biomedical Engineering, Quality and Risk Management, Plant Operations, and Materials Managements. Several of the respondents also serve on their hospital’s Emergency Preparedness Committees.
The survey questions focused on experiences with medical device performance, types of products affected, challenges encountered, and suggestions for improvements to better manage the effects of severe weather on medical devices.
All survey respondents use Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) systems for small devices and some have larger UPS systems to power areas such as the catheterization labs and to power IT server systems.
One respondent currently uses UPS systems for MRIs and other high-end radiology equipment since experiencing frequent power fluctuations and outages from severe storms and a lightning strike to a power line.
Several respondents report that they use UPS systems as a bridge until emergency generators turn on for critical equipment. One respondent wants to see physiological monitoring devices and all critical devices whether they are hardwired or wireless on UPS systems.
Others reported that due to hurricanes, earthquakes, and severe storms, communication devices such as pagers, cellphones, and two-way radios had weak signals from damage to cell phone towers.
Cell phone texting is viewed as the best way to communicate and seems to be more effective for communication between emergency medical services and emergency room staff. One hospital has its own communication system on site. However, use of the system requires staff training if used as a backup method.
Another hospital with affiliate sites is developing a mobile communications vehicle with satellites, radios, communication resources to be able to provide temporary relief until communications is restored at the hospital.
Go to www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/medsun/news/printer.cfm?id=1801 to read the article in the “MedSun: Newsletter #88, September 2013.