Half a decade has passed since the fifth revision of the medical law and mandatory appointment of a medical equipment safety manager (MESM) in hospitals in Japan. During this period, circumstances have changed regarding maintenance of medical equipment (ME). We conducted a survey to examine these changes and the current situation in ME management. Maintenance of ME and related work were found to have increased in many hospitals, but the number of clinical engineering technologists (CETs) has only slightly increased. The appointed MESM was a CET or physician in most hospitals. In hospitals where physicians were appointed as the MESM, 81% had operation managers. Many respondents commented that it was difficult for one person to cover all the tasks required by the MESM, due to a lack of knowledge, too much work, or other reasons. This suggests the importance of an operation manager for ME to work under the MESM.
Establishment of electromagnetic compatibility is important in use of electronic medical equipment in hospitals. To evaluate the electromagnetic environment, the electric field intensity induced by electromagnetic radiation in broadcasting spectra coming from outside the hospital was measured in a new hospital building before any patients visited the hospital and 6 months after the opening of the hospital. Various incoming radio waves were detected on the upper floors, with no significant difference in measured levels before and after opening of the hospital. There were no cellphone terminal signals before the hospital opened, but these signals were strongly detected at 6 months thereafter. Cellphone base stations signals were strongly detected on the upper floors, but there were no signals at most locations in the basement and in the center of the building on the lower floors. A maximum electrical intensity of 0.28 V/m from cellphone base stations (2.1 GHz) was detected at the south end of the 2nd floor before the hospital opened. This value is lower than the EMC marginal value for general electronic medical equipment specified in IEC 60601-1-2 (3 V/m). Therefore, electromagnetic interference with electronic medical equipment is unlikely in this situation. However, cellphone terminal signals were frequently detected in non-base station signal areas. This is a concern, and understanding signal strength from cellphone base stations at a hospital is important for promotion of greater safety.
Light-emitting diode (LED) lamps have been widely introduced in clinical settings for energy conservation and cost reduction However, LED lamps radiate electromagnetic noise and they cause poor reception of broadcasting and wireless communications. In this study, we investigated the effects of LED lamp use on the electromagnetic environment surrounding wireless medical telemetry systems and discuss the safe installation of LED lamps in a clinical settings. Streszczenie. Oświetlenie LED jest szeroko stosowane w klinikach medycznych, pozwalając na oszczędność energii i redukcję kosztów. Źródła światła bazujące na diodach LED emitują szum elektromagnetyczny powodując pogorszenie komunikacji bezprzewodowej. Artykuł przedstawia badania wpływu lamp LED na elektromagnetyczne środowisko obejmujące bezprzewodowe systemy telemetrii medycznej i omawia zasady instalacji lamp LED w obiektach medycznych. (Kompatybilność elektromagnetyczna medycznych systemów telemetrycznych i oświetlenia LED).
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