Authors (including presenting author) :
Cheung CY(1), Chong CT(1), Wong WL(1), Leung PMQ (2), Lam MS(2), Chung WM(2), Li MN (2), Chiu PL (2), Fong YL(2), Wong CY(2), Yan CK(2), Yuen CW(2), Leung CY(3), Ma CH(3), Lam PK(4), Shing LY(4)
Affiliation :
1. Occupational Safety and Health Team, Cluster Human Resources Division, New Territories West Cluster 2. Cluster Nursing Services Division, New Territories West Cluster 3. Biomedical Engineering Services Section, Cluster Procurement & Materials Management Unit, New Territories West Cluster 4. Cluster Quality & Safety Division, New Territories West Cluster
Keyword 1: :
Cable Management
Keyword 3: :
co-management
Introduction :
In high-paced clinical environments, improper management of medical equipment cables poses significant risks, including patient falls, electrical faults and user safety of medical equipment. To address these concerns, a quality improvement project was implemented across all clinical departments in NTWC to optimize cable safety protocols and equipment handling.
Objectives :
1. To identify and bridge knowledge gaps regarding cable safety management and medical equipment handling among frontline staff. 2. To enhance safety awareness in lifecycle management of medical equipment and its accessories, including cleaning, labeling, storage, and maintenance. 3. To sustain compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) through continuous education and the fostering of a proactive safety culture.
Methodology :
A multidisciplinary team comprising Biomedical Engineering (BESS), Quality & Safety (Q&S), Occupational Safety & Health (OSH), and Nursing Services (NSD) initiated systematic safety rounds across all clinical units, developing a systematic framework for departments to perform ongoing monitoring. These on-site evaluations focused on five key pillars: 1. Implementing equipment-power cable matching/labeling, 2. Documenting post-use visual inspection of power cables, 3. Applying "first-in-first-out" approach for medical equipment utilization, 4. Conducting regular condition check of medical equipment including its power cables and accessories, 5. Facilitating timely corrective and preventive maintenance.
Result & Outcome :
A significant improvement in safety outcomes is achieved within New Territories West Cluster (NTWC). Compared to 2024, the total number of biomedical equipment-related incidents in 2025 decreased from 25 to 15 (i.e. a 40% reduction). Additionally, the total number of incidents involving power trips, smoke/fire, or injuries caused by damaged power cables dropped from 5 to 1. The project yielded tangible improvements in compliance and organization. Real-time feedback loops facilitate immediate correction of unsafe practices, fostering a cultural shift to co-management of medical equipment involving management and user departments characterized by enhanced staff safety awareness of OSH / equipment risks and the transition to autonomous, continuous self-monitoring by user departments. This project illustrates that multidisciplinary collaboration is key to sustainable clinical and equipment safety. By standardizing cable management safety measures, NTWC has created a replicable framework that effectively safeguards both patients and staff while prolongs equipment lifespan in the long run.
