According to Health Care Risk Management standards supported by ASHRM and accreditation guidance from The Joint Commission, patient-owned electrical devices brought into healthcare facilities must be evaluated to ensure they do not pose safety risks. The Joint Commission’s Environment of Care standards emphasize electrical safety, fire prevention, and reduction of hazards within patient care areas.
Before a patient-owned electrical device is used within the facility, an electrical safety inspection should be conducted to assess the integrity of cords, plugs, grounding, and overall condition. The purpose is to identify potential risks such as frayed wiring, overheating hazards, or improper voltage compatibility that could endanger patients, staff, or equipment.
Simply inventorying the device with personal belongings does not address safety concerns. Sequestering the device may be appropriate if it fails inspection, but routine confiscation is not required. While biomedical engineering departments often assist with inspections, tagging by biomedical engineering is not itself the required action; the essential requirement is that a safety inspection be performed.
Clinical and patient safety objectives emphasize proactive hazard identification and compliance with accreditation standards. Therefore, conducting an electrical safety inspection is the appropriate action for patient-owned electrical devices entering the facility.