Free download: Our PCREE Inspection Checklist PDF covers all six stages of a compliant inspection — from pre-visit prep through post-inspection sign-off. Built on NFPA 99 (2021), CMS Conditions of Participation, and Joint Commission EC standards.
Every skilled nursing facility needs a documented PCREE inspection process. A checklist serves two purposes: it keeps your biomedical technician on track during the inspection, and it becomes part of your compliance record that surveyors can review.
This page explains what a proper PCREE checklist covers and why each section matters. The full PDF — which you can print and keep in your compliance binder — is available as a free download below.
What a PCREE Checklist Should Cover
A checklist that only covers the electrical safety test itself will leave your facility exposed. Surveyors evaluate the entire process — before, during, and after testing. A complete checklist covers six stages:
1. Pre-Inspection Preparation
Before the technician arrives, the facility side of the process needs to be in order: equipment inventory pulled and verified, previous inspection reports reviewed, outstanding corrective actions from the last cycle addressed, and technician credentials confirmed. Facilities that skip this step frequently discover mid-inspection that their device list is incomplete — which creates documentation gaps.
2. Visual Inspection (per device)
Every device should receive a documented visual check before electrical safety testing begins: power cord integrity, strain reliefs, plug condition, enclosure damage, alarm function, and labeling. A device that passes the electrical safety test but has a visibly damaged cord is still a citation risk.
3. Electrical Safety Tests
This is the core of PCREE compliance. The NFPA 99 (2021) limits to know:
- Ground wire resistance: ≤0.1 Ω total (including cord)
- Chassis leakage current: ≤300 µA (general care) / ≤100 µA (critical care)
- Patient lead leakage (individual): ≤100 µA (general) / ≤10 µA (cardiac-isolated)
- Patient lead leakage (all leads tied): ≤500 µA (general) / ≤50 µA (cardiac-isolated)
Each test should be run in normal polarity, reverse polarity, and open ground configurations — and every result should be recorded on the test report.
4. Equipment Categories
Not all equipment has the same testing interval. The checklist should include a table mapping equipment type to risk level and required testing frequency — so your technician (and your surveyor) can verify that every device category has been addressed on schedule.
5. Surveyor Hot List
The items CMS and state surveyors look for first: expired inspection stickers on equipment in use, extension cords being used as permanent wiring, damaged cords still in service, missing or unverified equipment logs, and resident-owned equipment that was never inspected upon admission. These deserve their own checklist section because they're the most common source of immediate citations.
6. Post-Inspection Sign-Off
Out-of-service tags on failed equipment, work orders created with due dates, inventory updated, and administrator signature. Without documented sign-off, your inspection exists only in the technician's records — not in yours.
Download the Free PCREE Inspection Checklist PDF
All six sections in a printable, field-ready format. Takes 30 seconds to download — enter your name, facility, and email and you'll get instant access.
Get the Free Checklist →How to Use the Checklist
Print one copy per inspection cycle and keep completed copies in your equipment maintenance file for a minimum of six years (CMS requirement). Before each inspection:
- Fill in the facility information at the top (name, inspector, date, next inspection date)
- Attach your current device inventory to the back
- Hand Section 3 to your biomedical technician to use as the test recording form
- Complete Section 6 with the administrator after the visit
If you're preparing for a survey, pull your last three completed checklists and verify that all corrective actions from previous cycles have been closed. This is one of the first things a surveyor will check.
What If You Don't Have a Testing Vendor Yet?
If you're downloading this checklist because you're setting up a PCREE program from scratch, the next step is finding a certified biomedical technician in your area. See our state-by-state resource pages or request a free quote and we'll connect you with a vetted local vendor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the PCREE inspection checklist available as a free PDF download?
Yes. PCREE Test offers a free printable PCREE inspection checklist PDF covering all six stages: pre-inspection preparation, visual inspection, electrical safety tests, equipment categories, surveyor hot list, and post-inspection sign-off. Download it at pcreetest.com/checklist/ — enter your name, facility, and email for instant access.
How often should a skilled nursing facility complete a PCREE inspection checklist?
At minimum, once per year for each device in your patient care equipment inventory — aligned with NFPA 99's risk-based testing requirements. High-risk or life-support devices may require more frequent testing. Complete a new checklist for every inspection cycle and retain completed copies for a minimum of six years per CMS guidance.
Does completing the PCREE checklist satisfy NFPA 99 documentation requirements?
A properly completed checklist — with device-specific measurements, test dates, technician credentials, and administrator sign-off — satisfies the core NFPA 99 Chapter 10 documentation requirements. The key is that the records must be device-level (not just a facility-wide summary) and must include the specific electrical measurement values, not just a pass/fail notation.
Who should complete the PCREE inspection checklist?
The electrical safety testing sections must be completed by a qualified biomedical technician — typically a CBET-credentialed professional or licensed electrician with documented healthcare training. The facility-side sections (pre-inspection prep and post-inspection sign-off) are completed by the facility's maintenance director or administrator. Never ask general maintenance staff without documented qualifications to perform the electrical safety testing portion.