Frequently Asked Questions
Some electrodes are re-usable, others are not. PTs need know about the types of equipment they are using, use them properly and ensure safety of pts. If the electrodes are not re-useable, don’t re-use them. If they are re-useable between patients, make sure they are disinfected as per manufacturer guidelines.
Be sure to read the Infection Control and Equipment Maintenance Standard.
If in doubt, get in touch with the Practice Advisor at 647-484-8800 or 1-800-583-5885 or advice@collegept.org.
Documenting the inspection, maintenance and servicing of physiotherapy equipment provides evidence that the necessary steps have been taken to ensure that equipment is safe for patient use.
You should take reasonable steps to ensure that the equipment used in clinical practice is properly maintained and calibrated according to manufacturer recommendations and that appropriate infection control procedures are in place. See the Infection Control and Equipment Maintenance Standard.
Even if you do not have direct control over the maintenance of equipment, for example, your employer is responsible; you are expected to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of the equipment.
You must have written evidence that routine inspections of the equipment you use have been performed. The rigour (and frequency) of the inspection and maintenance protocol will vary with the riskiness of the equipment.
The College does not provide a specific timeline for the inspection of equipment used in physiotherapy interventions. However, it is recommended that you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines or best practice measures to ensure that the equipment is functioning correctly. Consider looking at Health Canada’s website. It is your responsibility as a physiotherapist to understand the risks of the equipment you use on patients.
Have a look at the Infection Control and Equipment Maintenance Standard that provides a list of all of the expectations PTs are expected to follow.
If in doubt, get in touch with the Practice Advisor at 647-484-8800 or 1-800-583-5885 or advice@collegept.org.
Think about what might reasonably go wrong with the equipment and have a plan to deal with the risk. For example, in addition to an annual review, each PT would want to visually inspect a walker or cane before providing it to a patient to ensure things like the rubber tips and hand grips are in good condition and if there are any nuts or bolts, that they are not loose. The PT must ensure the equipment is properly cleaned between each patient use.
Be sure to refer to the Infection Control and Equipment Maintenance Standard.
If in doubt, get in touch with the Practice Advisor at 647-484-8800 or 1-800-583-5885 or advice@collegept.org.
It is the physiotherapist’s responsibility to ensure that the equipment they use to provide patient care is adequately maintained and safe.
A PT must ensure there is a written process for routinely reviewing the maintenance and safety of the equipment they use, and be able to demonstrate that they did the review. The maintenance may be done by another trained individual, but the physiotherapist needs to ensure that the review was done and know the date that is was completed.
Review the Infection Control and Equipment Maintenance Standard for more information.