“Medical-Grade” power products are UL 60601-1 compliant and designed for use inside the patient care vicinity. What is the difference between “medical-grade” and “hospital-grade”?These terms are often used synonymously. beyond the normal location of the bed, chair, table, treadmill, or other device that supports the patient during examination and treatment and extends vertically 7 ft. How is “patient care vicinity” defined?Patient care vicinity is “a space within a location intended for the examination and treatment of patients (i.e., patient care room) extending 6 ft. Critical-Care Areas-special care units such as intensive care units, delivery rooms, operating rooms, coronary care units, angiography labs and other areas where patients will be subjected to invasive procedures and connected to on-line electro-medical devices.ģ.General-Care Areas-patient bedrooms, examining rooms, treatment rooms, clinics and similar areas where patients come in contact with “ordinary devices” such as nurse call systems, electrical beds, examining lamps, telephone or entertainment devices and electro-medical equipment.How is a “patient-care room” defined?A patient-care room is “any area within a healthcare facility where patients are intended to be examined or treated.” Patient-care rooms include both general- and critical-care areas: If a power product is installed inside a patient-care room, it must be “medical-grade” and UL 60601-1 compliant.Ģ. From a regulatory standpoint, there are two distinct areas within healthcare facilities: inside the patient-care room and outside the patient-care room.
#Ul 1363a or ul 60601 install#
How does location affect my choice of power products?Where you install your power products can determine the type of product you need to purchase. If you purchase power strips, surge protectors, isolation transformers or uninterruptible power supplies for your facility, the following questions and answers will help you make an informed choice.ġ. Selecting compliant power products is an essential but often confusing part of a healthcare manager’s job. Top 6 FAQs when Choosing Healthcare Power Products I have regularly seen the same problem in IT server farms and PBX installations, some in Joint Commission certified hospitals.News Top 6 FAQs when Choosing Healthcare Power Products Selecting compliant power products is an essential but often confusing part of a healthcare manager’s job. Power strips are needed to handle the numerous, but small current demand devices that are in almost constant state of configuration change. I can't conceive of an in wall, permanent solution to this as moves and changes occurs, same problem in commercial IT server sites. Some portions powered 24x7, some with power controlled by remotely via security system operation and some on local control as needed by use, and some devices on a central commercial UPS and other items on house power.
#Ul 1363a or ul 60601 code#
This area seems to be a problem in general where code accepted solutions and equipment are not available to meet real world demands in today's complex computer, network and instrumentation areas that undergo constant configuration change as a part of their operation.Įven in my rather complex at home main work area with multiple computers, video security, audio/video equipment, it takes five power strips to run everything. Hospitals usually use them in operating rooms as a centralized source of power for surgical equipment in order to avoid tripping hazards, and they mount them on IV poles for infusion pumps.ĬMS requires hospitals to comply with NFPA 101, “The Life Safety Code” (2000 Edition), as a condition of participation (CoP) in their Medicare and Medicaid programs. So beware when a vendor tries to sell you a "hospital grade" or "medical grade" power strip. Both LTC facilities and Hospitals fall under the same occupancy chapters in the Life Safety Code – “New/Existing Health Care Occupancies.” Therefore, it is not surprising that CMS’s position on such matters would be the same for both. CMS cites LTC facilities and hospitals of these violations under K-Tag K0147. Joint Commission earlier this month (June 2014) announced they have been advised by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of this prohibition, which is consistent with how CMS always surveyed Long Term Care (LTC) facilities for compliance with NFPA 101-2000 ( see page 15, Publication 100 07, Transmittal 27 dated August 17, 2007). Hospitals are shocked to learn that they can no longer plug their medical devices into power strips and surge suppressors.