CET Equipment Operation and Maintenance Flashcards

What is the purpose of the RL (right leg) electrode in a standard 12-lead EKG?

Answer: It serves as an electrical ground reference to reduce interference

The RL electrode functions as a ground/reference to complete the circuit and minimize electrical noise in the recording.

A new EKG machine has arrived on the unit. Who is responsible for verifying its calibration and safety before clinical use?

Answer: The biomedical engineering department

Biomedical engineering is responsible for incoming device inspection, safety testing, and calibration verification before new equipment enters clinical use.

An EKG machine is producing an excessively thick or fuzzy tracing on all leads simultaneously. The MOST likely cause is:

Answer: 60 Hz AC interference from nearby electrical equipment or poor grounding

Simultaneous thick/fuzzy artifact on all leads is the classic presentation of 60 Hz AC interference, often from equipment near the patient.

To store EKG recordings electronically in a hospital, which system is most commonly used?

Answer: An ECG management system integrated with the EHR

Modern facilities use dedicated ECG management systems that transmit and archive tracings directly into the electronic health record.

Which of the following actions would MOST likely damage the internal components of EKG lead wires?

Answer: Repeatedly coiling them tightly at sharp angles around the machine handle

Tightly bending lead wires around handles repeatedly causes stress fractures in the internal conductors, leading to intermittent signal loss.

What information must always be verified on the printed EKG header before submitting the tracing to the provider?

Answer: Patient name, date of birth, date and time of recording, and ordering provider

The EKG header must correctly identify the patient, the date and time, and the ordering provider to ensure proper interpretation and documentation.