Equipment Operation & Maintenance Flashcards

A videoconferencing unit in a rural clinic repeatedly drops the connection mid-visit. Network speed tests show adequate bandwidth. What should the coordinator investigate next?

Answer: Packet loss and network jitter on the connection

High packet loss and jitter cause dropped connections and poor video quality even when raw bandwidth appears sufficient.

Which type of power protection device is most important to deploy with telehealth carts to prevent equipment damage from sudden power loss?

Answer: Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

A UPS provides battery backup so telehealth equipment can be properly shut down or continue operating briefly during a power outage, protecting hardware and open sessions.

A telehealth coordinator is setting up equipment in a patient's home. Which environmental factor poses the greatest risk to remote monitoring device accuracy?

Answer: Extreme temperatures outside the device's operating range

Operating medical devices outside their specified temperature range can cause sensor inaccuracies, battery failures, or permanent hardware damage.

What does the term 'latency' refer to in the context of telehealth videoconferencing equipment performance?

Answer: The time delay between sending and receiving audio/video data

Latency is the round-trip delay in data transmission, and high latency creates disruptive audio/video lag during clinical consultations.

A coordinator is performing a pre-visit equipment check and notices the telehealth cart's battery shows 20% charge. What is the correct action?

Answer: Connect the cart to AC power before starting the visit

Connecting to AC power before the visit prevents an unexpected shutdown mid-consultation that could disrupt patient care.

Which protocol is most commonly used to secure audio and video streams transmitted during telehealth encounters?

Answer: SRTP (Secure Real-time Transport Protocol)

SRTP encrypts real-time audio and video streams, making it the standard protocol for securing telehealth communications.

A telehealth organization is expanding to provide services across state lines. What equipment documentation must be maintained to comply with multi-state medical device regulations?

Answer: FDA registration records and state-specific biomedical equipment certifications where required

Medical devices used in telehealth must maintain FDA registration and comply with any additional state biomedical engineering or inspection requirements.