Medical equipment ordinance and lack of personnel: two contrary factors influencing anesthesia patient safety.
In January 1986, West German legislators enacted the Medical Equipment Ordinance (MedGV) to define specific regulations for both manufacturers and operators of medical equipment and to offer a measure of safety to patients. We describe the history of MedGV, its regulations, and the mechanisms developed to enforce those regulations. We also evaluate its impact on clinical practice in light of the current staff shortages in anesthesia practice and research in Germany. Finally, we focus our discussion on the distinction between improved equipment as a minor factor in critical-incidents and the inadequate manpower as a major factor in anesthesia mishaps. It is unclear what will develop after 1993, when the national states in Europe form a common market.
Peter
K
K
Institute of Anesthesiology, Ludwig-Maximillians-University of Munich, Germany.
Dieterich
H J
HJ
D000758:Anesthesia / Q000592:standards; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000295:instrumentation; D004869:Equipment Safety; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000592:standards; D005860:Germany, West; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D007445:Inventories, Hospital; D007883:Legislation, Medical; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012449:Safety; D000078329:Workforce