In busy hospital settings and in hectic emergency rooms, it is important to have equipment that is not just durable and built to stand up to wear and tear, but also to be user-friendly for medical staff.
One of the most important pieces of equipment in patient monitoring and care is the use of vital signs monitors. New technology and options in these devices allow them to be more accurate and have the ability to monitor more than just the basics.
Vital signs monitors, also known as patient monitors should be carefully selected to ensure they are able to perform the specific monitoring tasks required. Some of the older models still in use provide basic vital signs monitoring and recording, but they don't offer all the features and the efficiency provided by the new models.
Systems may have ECG, respiration, temperature, pulse oximetry and non-invasive blood pressure monitoring all included with the single device.
For emergency and intensive care areas, the size of the monitor, or more specifically the size and design of the screen, will be an important consideration. Nurses and medical staff need to have the ability to quickly and easily view the results displayed on the monitor from across the bed or from different positions when providing health care to the patient.
Many of the new screens and displays are extremely clear and can include up to 12-inch display. Additionally, the various readings on the monitor are displayed in bright colors, each different for very easy visual reads.
Through hospital networking, the information from monitors can be captured and easily recorded in patient records through hospital networks and software. Additionally, many of the monitors are able to display up to 72 hours of data for immediate review by medical staff.
Take the time to compare different vital signs monitors before making a choice. Newer models typically offer more features and functions, something well worth consideration for higher efficiency and patient monitoring capabilities.