🦠 Seeing a trend in tabletop sterilizer repairs lately…

A large number of recent service calls I’ve responded to have involved tabletop sterilizers used in clinics, surgery centers, and dental clinics. These units play a critical role in patient care by sterilizing instruments used during procedures, so keeping them in good working condition is essential.

What’s been interesting (and concerning) is that many of these “repairs” ultimately came down to internal cleaning issues. In several cases, biological growth was found in the water system due to improper daily and weekly care.

If your facility uses a tabletop sterilizer, following the manufacturer’s user care and maintenance instructions is not optional because it directly impacts performance, safety, and lifespan! (You can get a manual online or by contacting the manufacturer.)

So..

One best practice I strongly recommend based on real-world service experience:
✔️ Drain the sterilizer on Fridays after the final cycle
✔️ Refill with fresh water Monday morning before use

This simple habit has been shown to:
• Reduce internal contamination
• Improve overall reliability
• Extend the life of the sterilizer
• Decrease unexpected repair calls

Small operational habits make a big difference over time. Preventive care always costs less than reactive repairs.

If you’re unsure whether your current process aligns with manufacturer recommendations, it’s worth taking a second look or just asking. Biomed Consulting & Services is here for you.

Today we visited a surgery center and found something concerning. ⚠️

Their previous service provider had been submitting preventative maintenance reports and charging💰for devices that have not been at the facility for years.

If the equipment is not onsite, it cannot be inspected.

Preventative maintenance is not just paperwork. It is physical verification, safety testing, and compliance documentation. 🛠️📋

Review your reports carefully. You should never be paying for maintenance on equipment that is not even in your building.

Accountability and transparency matter in healthcare. 🏥

If you ever want a second set of eyes on your inventory or PM documentation, we are happy to help.

Biomed Consulting & Services LLC
Serving healthcare facilities across the Inland Northwest

🔧 Preventive Maintenance vs. Calibration What’s the Difference?

We’re often asked: “Is preventive maintenance the same as calibration?”

Short answer: No, but both are critical.Preventive Maintenance (PM) focuses on safety and reliability.They are mandatory for hospitals, surgery centers, and many other patient-health related practices in order to pass inspections.

A PM consists of equipment inspections, cleaning, functional testing, and verifying the device operates as intended per the manufacturer’s guidelines. PM’s help catch wear, damage, or failures before they impact patient care!

Calibration, on the other hand, is about accuracy.It verifies that a device’s measurements (pressure, temperature, flow, weight, etc.) align with known standards and are within allowable tolerances—often using NIST-traceable test equipment.

🔹 PM asks: Is the device safe and functioning properly?

🔹 Calibration asks: Is the device measuring correctly?

Many devices require BOTH, and skipping either can lead to compliance issues, inaccurate results, or equipment downtime.

At Biomed Consulting & Services, we follow manufacturer specifications and accreditation requirements to ensure equipment is not only operational—but accurate and reliable.

Don’t know what you need? Feel free to reach out today!