Stretcher Maintenance Documentation

One of the most frequent and sometimes severe, Professional Healthcare Liability claims is as a result of patient drops from stretchers.  These claims generally fall into two major categories, mechanical failure and human error.

The performance and reliability of wheeled EMS lifting equipment is important to the reduction of liability exposure related to patient drops caused by equipment failure.  During the survey it was determined that for general maintenance and repairs of wheeled EMS equipment is performed by a member of your organization. 

Keeping and maintaining proper documentation of stretcher maintenance repairs and evaluations can be as important as the maintenance and repairs themselves.  Having complete and accurate records that support your organization’s stretcher maintenance program should not only assist you in defense of your maintenance and repair program should a claim arise, but should also permit more accurate accounting which will be helpful in budgeting for maintenance and repairs.

To enhance and support your maintenance program, GCA recommends the following changes:

• Make certain that the documentation and service provided meets the frequency of the time frames indicated in your organizations service instructions
• Any and all repairs should be indicated on the maintenance forms for each stretcher 
• A file for maintenance and repairs should be kept for each stretcher
• There should be a paper trail for each stretcher indicating the repair made; parts used; date of service and the individual completing the service should be indicated

By maintaining your patient handling equipment in the appropriate manner, your organization will greatly reduce one of the two primary causes of patient drops.