Equipment Operation & Maintenance Flashcards

A digital scale used to track patient weight trends in an AK practice should be placed on:

Answer: A level, hard floor surface for accurate readings

Scales must be placed on a level, hard surface to ensure the load cells distribute weight evenly and produce accurate readings.

Interferential current (IFC) therapy units require that dual-channel electrodes be placed so that the currents:

Answer: Intersect at the target tissue to create the interferential effect

IFC therapy works by intersecting two medium-frequency currents at the target tissue, producing a low-frequency beat frequency with deep penetrating effects.

During an AK clinic inventory review, a muscle testing hand dynamometer shows an expiration date passed. The correct action is:

Answer: Remove from service and replace with a calibration-current model

Expired calibration on measurement devices means accuracy cannot be guaranteed; the device must be removed from service and replaced.

The primary reason to inspect flexion-distraction table pivot pins and locking mechanisms before each clinical use is:

Answer: To prevent unexpected positional shifts that could injure the patient during treatment

Worn or loose pivot pins and locking mechanisms can cause sudden table movement during flexion-distraction procedures, creating serious patient injury risk.

When a practitioner notices rust forming on a metal component of their AK treatment table, the recommended initial step is:

Answer: Assess whether the rust affects a structural or patient-contact component, then decide on repair or replacement

The appropriate response depends on location: surface rust on non-structural, non-contact areas may be repaired, while rust on structural or contact components requires immediate professional assessment.

A vibration therapy platform used adjunctively in AK requires the user to verify before activation that:

Answer: The patient is standing balanced on the platform and the safety key is engaged

Patient balance must be confirmed and the safety key engaged before activation to prevent falls and ensure the device can be quickly stopped if needed.

Which protocol should an AK practitioner follow if a piece of therapeutic equipment delivers an unexpected electrical shock to a patient?

Answer: Immediately discontinue use, unplug the device, assess the patient, and file an incident report

An unexpected electrical shock requires immediate device shutdown, patient assessment, and incident reporting to protect the patient and initiate equipment investigation.