[Determining biomedical equipment calibration in health care Institutions in the Risaralda Department of Colombia].
OBJECTIVE
Determining quality features related to tracking biomedical equipment calibration patterns and their electrical safety as implemented by Health Care Institutions in the Risaralda department.


METHODS
This was a descriptive study using non-probabilistic sampling and the criterion of a greater equipment inventory and service demand for Clinics, Aesthetic, Radiology and Dentistry Centres and Hospitals. Census; the instrument was applied to 32 health-care institutions distributed throughout the Risaralda departments 14 municipalities between September 2005 and January 2006.


RESULTS
Hospitals was the category having a highest number of electro-medical equipment (56%). Pereira (the capital of Risaralda) had 81% of all electro-medical equipment. All the institutions lacked NTC-ISO-IEC-17025 accreditation regarding standards certified by the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce. None of the institutions externally contracted by the institutions being surveyed was accredited.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a public health risk in the Risaralda department; all health-care institutions lacked NTC-ISO-IEC-17025 accreditation and external institutions (in turn being hired by them for calibrating their equipment) also lacked accreditation. Based on the information obtained from non-calibrated equipment having international patterns, there is a great danger that determining the quality of biomedical equipment calibration patterns may be erroneous. It also places health-care institutions at a competitive disadvantage when compared to other accredited institutions in Colombia or in other countries.
López-Isaza
Giovanni A
GA
Facultad de Tecnologías, Escuela de Tecnología Industrial, Departamento de Física, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Colombia. galijamj@yahoo.es
Llamosa-Rincón
Luis E
LE
D002138:Calibration / Q000592:standards*; D003105:Colombia; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000592:standards*; D006268:Health Facilities