Subacute: new equipment, new maintenance concerns

One important fact that accompanies the provision of subacute care is an increased use of sophisticated medical devices. Because these devices either directly affect the patient's health or significantly contribute to the assessment and prescription of other clinical care, safe and reliable performance must be assured throughout the device's lifetime. Medical devices require careful selection and routine safety inspections, and many require expensive preventive maintenance and replacement supplies and accessories. The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations' subacute care accreditation framework can and should be used to develop an appropriate program.