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Library
A plain index of the topics covered by AAMIBlog.
The library collects the reference material readers ask for most often: what a term means, which document governs a process, and where the primary source lives. It is a starting point for practitioners who need to explain a requirement to someone else, not a substitute for the standards themselves.
Core vocabulary
| Term | What it covers |
|---|---|
| HTM | Healthcare technology management — the discipline of keeping medical equipment safe, available and documented |
| CMMS | Computerised maintenance management system: the record of assets, work orders and history |
| IFU | Instructions for use — the manufacturer's document defining operation, cleaning and servicing |
| CAPA | Corrective and preventive action: the structured response to a nonconformity |
| UDI | Unique device identification — the identifier that links a device to its regulatory record |
Document families
- Voluntary consensus standards — technical requirements agreed by committees; often referenced by regulators.
- Regulations — legally binding requirements set by an authority.
- Guidance — an authority's interpretation of how to comply; not law, but expected practice.
- Manufacturer documentation — IFU, service manuals, field safety notices.
How to use the library
Start from the term, then follow the document family to the primary source. When two documents disagree — a standard and a local policy, for example — the stricter requirement usually governs practice, but the reasoning should be recorded so the next person does not repeat the work.
What is not here
We do not host copies of copyrighted standards, regulator submissions or manufacturer service manuals. Where a document is publicly available, we describe it and let the reader go to the issuing body.
Related reading
How standards work in practice is covered in how medical device standards work. The maintenance side is explained in building a preventive maintenance schedule.