NSQHS accreditation surveys can raise findings about biomedical equipment that catch hospitals off guard — not because the testing wasn’t done, but because the records weren’t structured the way surveyors expect to see them. Here’s what typically gets checked and how to make sure your equipment compliance evidence holds up.
What Surveyors Look For
Under the NSQHS Standards, surveyors assess whether your hospital has a systematic, documented approach to managing medical equipment risk — not just whether individual items have been tested. That means they’re looking for:
- A current, complete equipment register covering all medical electrical equipment in use.
- Evidence of testing intervals set by a documented risk assessment (referencing AS/NZS 3551), not an arbitrary schedule.
- Test records that are current — no equipment operating past its due date.
- A clear process for what happens when equipment fails testing or is flagged as high-risk.
Common Findings We See
- Incomplete equipment registers — items purchased or moved between departments that never made it onto the master list.
- Inconsistent testing intervals across equipment of the same risk class, with no documented rationale for the difference.
- Gaps between testing cycles where equipment sat untested for longer than its assessed interval, often due to access or scheduling issues.
How to Get Ahead of a Survey
The hospitals that sail through the equipment-related NSQHS checks are the ones that treat testing as an ongoing, scheduled programme rather than a pre-survey scramble. A PPM contract keeps your testing cycle running continuously, and our NSQHS Standards testing page covers the accreditation requirements in more detail. See also our hospitals sector page for how we work with hospital biomedical and facilities teams.
FAQ
How far ahead of a survey should we check our equipment records?
Ideally, equipment compliance shouldn’t be a pre-survey exercise at all — a running PPM schedule means your records are always current. If a survey is coming up and you’re not sure where things stand, get in touch and we can help assess your position quickly.
What if some of our equipment testing has lapsed?
Contact us and we’ll prioritise getting lapsed equipment tested and your register updated as quickly as possible.
Do all hospital departments need to be on one equipment register?
Yes, NSQHS surveyors expect a single, complete register covering equipment across the facility, not separate lists per department.
Can you help set testing intervals for a risk assessment?
Yes, we can advise on setting AS/NZS 3551-referenced testing intervals as part of establishing or reviewing your equipment risk assessment.
Get Your Equipment Compliance Survey-Ready
Talk to us about a testing programme that keeps your equipment register current year-round. Contact Nova Biomedical for a quote.
