Compliance News: Manufacturer's Maintenance Recommendations - Alternatives Accepted by CMS

By Dean Samet, CHSP


The Joint Commission accredited hospitals, critical access hospitals, and ambulatory care programs can breathe a sigh of relief.  As reported in the December 2010 The Joint Commission Perspectives®, TJC engaged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in a collaborative exchange to explain its viewpoint on why it is important to allow health care organizations to continue to employ TJC standards’ three criteria for scheduled maintenance activities for medical equipment and for utility systems.


The criteria consist of manufacturer’s recommendations, risk levels associated with the equipment, as well as hospital experience (see applicable TJC standards and elements of performance below along with yet to be revised CMS Interpretive Guidelines).  According to the Perspectives article, CMS agreed!