Medical Equipment Maintainer

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to function as a Medical Equipment Maintainer. Medical Equipment Maintainer performs preventative maintenance, inspections, troubleshooting, repairs, upgrades and updates; and installation of and startup on medical equipment with low to moderate risk that require general control and medical equipment with moderate to high risk that requires special control, according to standard operating procedures, manufacturer's specifications and functionality of equipment in order to keep equipment optimally functional. A qualified learner will be able to: • Conduct preventative maintenance on medical equipment with low to moderate risk that requires general control and medical equipment with moderate to high risk that requires special control in accordance with standard operating procedures. • Inspect, troubleshoot and repair medical equipment with low to moderate risk that requires general control and medical equipment with moderate to high risk that requires special control in accordance with standard operating procedures. • Upgrade and update medical equipment with low to moderate risk that requires general control and medical equipment with moderate to high risk that requires special control in accordance with standard operating procedures. • Install and startup medical equipment with low to moderate risk that requires general control and medical equipment with moderate to high risk that requires special control in accordance with standard operating procedures. • Manage Medical Equipment Inventory. • Capacitate self and the medical equipment end-user on the use of the medical equipment. A competent learner shall demonstrate among others the following attributes: honesty, integrity, punctuality, time management, self-motivated, responsibility, critical analysis, accountability, problem-solving, interpersonal relations, ethical behaviour, well organised, self-confidence and confidentiality.

All Provincial Health Departments are faced with increasing medical litigations, and faulty and malfunctioning medical equipment are among the contributory factors that result in high patient safety incidents. It is against this background that the National Department of Health commenced with ongoing studies whose adverse findings have been translated into the Ideal Hospital Realisation and Maintenance Framework (IHRMF) to address the situation. Coupled with the IHRMF is the Departmental mandate to make sure that National Health Insurance is realised for delivering quality health care to the citizens of the country, as such functional and safe use of medical equipment forms a cornerstone for successful implementation. There is a major problem with the maintenance of medical equipment in South African public healthcare services. This is evident by the current medical liabilities faced by healthcare centres, of which some are a result of faulty medical equipment resulting in multiple lawsuits and avoidable serious adverse events, due to poor maintenance. The qualification will provide learners with knowledge and skills that will enable them to carry out preventative maintenance, inspections, troubleshooting, repairs, upgrades and updates or installation of and startup on medical equipment with low to moderate risk that require general control, i.e., Class I medical equipment and medical equipment with moderate to high risk that requires special control, i.e., Class II medical equipment, according to standard operating procedures, manufacturer's specifications and functionality of equipment in order to keep equipment optimally functional. The availability of qualified Medical Equipment Maintainers will benefit the sector by ensuring improved healthcare services resulting from well-maintained, efficient and effective functioning medical equipment. In addition, well-maintained medical equipment will have an extended life span which in turn is a cost-benefit to the healthcare facility. This shall cut the costs of liability and litigation by patients to private and public health facilities. Society will benefit from this qualification through improved healthcare, and learning opportunities created through the availability of a nationally recognised medical equipment maintainer occupational qualification, thereby, creating employment opportunities for communities, thus, promoting a healthy society. This will increase efficiency in the healthcare service provision and system, especially in rural areas. Typical learners for the qualification are post-grade 12 learners with Mathematics and Physical Science; and qualified individuals who are currently working at healthcare centres as general maintenance workers or assistants to Clinical Technologists. The National Department of Health representative participated in the development of this qualification. Representatives from the Tshwane University of Technology also participated in the development of this qualification. Currently, there are no careers that articulate horizontally with this occupation. However, qualified learners can pursue entrepreneurship opportunities in the medical equipment sector. Vertical progression can be towards careers such as Clinical Equipment Maintainer and Medical Device Maintainer in Clinical Engineering.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): RPL for Access to Training Learners may use the RPL process to gain access to training opportunities for a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification or skills programme if they do not meet the formal, minimum entry requirements for admission. RPL assessment provides an alternative access route into a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme. Such an RPL assessment may be developed, moderated and conducted by the accredited Skills Development Provider which offers that specific qualification/part qualification/skills programme. Such an assessment must ensure that the learner is able to display the equivalent level of competencies required for access, based on the NQF level descriptors. RPL for exemption from modules For exemption from modules through RPL, learners who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification or skills programme through any means of formal, informal or non-formal learning and/or work experience, may be awarded credits towards relevant modules, and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded. RPL for Access to the External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA) Learners who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification or skills programme through any means of formal, informal or non-formal learning and/or work experience, may be awarded credits towards relevant modules, and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded. A valid Statement of Results is required for admission to the EISA in which confirmation of achievement is provided that all internal assessment criteria for all modules in the related curriculum document have been achieved. For a Skills Programme, the accredited Skills Development Provider (SDP) must ensure all modular competency requirements are met prior to the FISA and keep record of such evidence. Upon successful completion of the EISA, RPL learners will be issued with the QCTO certificate for the qualification, part-qualification or skills programme. Quality Partners are responsible for ensuring the RPL mechanism and process for qualifications and part-qualification is approved by the QCTO. Entry Requirements: An NQF level 4 qualification with Mathematics and Physical Science.

• Apply preventive maintenance procedures on medical equipment with low to moderate risk that requires general control and medical equipment with moderate to high risk that requires special control.
• Apply operational procedures to maintain medical equipment with low to moderate risk that require general control and medical equipment with moderate to high risk that require special control.
• Demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge and skills to upgrade and update medical equipment with low to moderate risk that require general control and medical equipment with moderate to high risk that require special control.
• Apply operational procedures, knowledge and skills to install medical equipment with low to moderate risk that require general control and medical equipment with moderate to high risk that require special control.
• Apply managerial principles to ensure management and control of Medical Equipment. Inventory.
• Apply learning and development principles to capacitate self and the medical equipment end-user on the use of the medical equipment.