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Vital signs monitors are an efficient method for collecting accurate readings when evaluating patient health. Modern medicine relies on the data from vital monitors so medical staff can make decisions about a diagnosis and plan a course of treatment for their patients.
An informed purchase decision will ensure that the correct monitoring equipment is in your clinic, ER, surgery, hospital, or other medical facility. Clinicians need this information to make quick and accurate decisions. Quality patient care depends on doctors and nurses having accurate information at the right time.
Overall health and wellness can be quickly assessed by collecting a person’s vital signs. Vital signs specifically indicate what actions may need to be taken by medical personnel, whether collected during an annual physical exam, or at the scene of an accident. A person’s vital signs demonstrate how their body is performing at that moment. Occasionally, people will say they feel okay, especially in stressful situations, but their vital signs can tell an entirely different story. Vital signs are used as a crucial benchmark of the status of a patient’s health by doctors, nurses, first aiders, first responders, and paramedics.
Vital Monitor Buying Considerations
Researching Vital Monitors
The purchase of a vital monitor can be a frustrating experience. There are many makes and models to choose from depending on the intended purpose, budgetary concerns, as well as the preferences of experienced staff members.
The modern vital sign monitors available today have bright, visible displays for easy reading. Most are powered by AC and DC, and also include an option for battery power. A battery backup is an important feature in the case of a power outage, or for normal patient portability. Some vital sign monitors are highly portable, include a rolling stand or can be mounted on the wall permanently. Most monitors have the ability to interface with your EHR systems for annotating real-time wave forms and vital signs directly into your patient records.
This Vital Monitor Buyer’s Guide is designed to help you make an informed decision about your next monitor purchase. Having the right equipment will improve patient care, reduce staff frustrations, and maximize available budgetary funds.
What Needs to be Monitored and Why
Each healthcare center focuses primarily on the type of medical services it provides. This focus will help determine which vital signs need to be monitored in the delivery of patient services. An ambulance will focus on emergency medicine and therefore may not carry equipment to perform some more detailed tests like pulse oximetry, but they will certainly take each patient’s pulse and respiration rate to assess the best way to support the short-term transport of the patient to the hospital.
Most hospitals have a wide variety of specialized monitors, as well as several more generalized units designed to move with patients, collect early diagnostic criteria, and record patient recovery.
Specialized hospitals or departments will have a greater percentage of specialized equipment in order to support multiple patients with similar medical conditions. For example, the ICU will have stationary units by each bedside, while the NICU will use fetal vital signs monitors for babies. This may seem obvious to some, but during the purchase process it is crucial that the purchasing department understand the exact use of the equipment, and not just focus on the budgetary concerns.
Vital Signs
These vital signs are typical of the information doctors, nurses, and emergency responders require in order to make the appropriate healthcare decisions for their patients:
Vital Monitor Features and Technical Specifications
The monitoring of vital signs is typically the first thing that happens to every patient upon entering a medical setting. Individual devices can be used to measure separate aspects of the patient’s health, but combination monitors are most frequently used. These monitors are especially preferred by doctors, nurses and other medical professionals in critical-care situations where vital signs can suddenly fluctuate.
The monitors record and store data to show the patient’s real-time health status. They use warning visuals and sounds to alert medical personnel of important changes.
Features of Basic Combined Monitors
Combined monitors are either intended for portable or fixed use, and typically include the following basic features:
These standard features are available in all modern medical monitors. When the buyer requires more detailed customization, the purchasing decisions can become more complex.
Typical Vital Signs Monitors in a Clinical Setting
There are several types of vital sign monitors being used in the healthcare industry today. They range in capability, size, type of reports created and more. Choosing the appropriate monitor for the intended purpose will keep costs down, and patient satisfaction levels up.
How to Maintain Vital Monitors
Regular maintenance of your vital monitor is required to ensure long-term operation and functionality. For devices used in the field, regular ongoing maintenance is crucial. There are a few simple steps that operators must take to maintain their equipment.
Additionally, scheduled professional service calls are recommended as a preventative measure. Each manufacturer will have different recommendations for their equipment. Please refer to your user manual for specific directions.
General Maintenance Recommendations:
Equipment that is appropriately maintained will last longer and be less likely to fail during use. Keep all vital signs monitors well maintained.
Printing and Reporting Capabilities
Historically, even very ill patients were not routinely monitored by a continuous connected system. Nursing assistants and technicians have been responsible for the collection of patient's vital sign data, as scheduled by their primary care or attending physician. Generally, the data was written by hand into the patient chart, or typed manually into a computer, which lead to transcription errors.
Connected Monitors
With today’s smart, connected, wireless vital signs monitors, this data links directly to the electronic medical records which eliminates errors completely. This technology allows medical facilities to become completely paperless.
When shifting to a paperless system, it is necessary to ensure the protection of patient privacy. The objectives with connected and wireless vital signs monitors are to eliminate errors while protecting patient data, and to streamline administrative and support processes.
With the automatic collection of patient data, this leaves additional time for medical staff to interact directly with patients, rather than having to perform basic clinical exams.
Vital signs monitor with printer
Despite the shift towards paperless systems, there are many situations when printing is required. Having the ability to print directly from vital monitor saves a lot of time. The printout is available immediately for the medical staff or patient to review.
Purchase Criteria
It is always important to keep in mind exactly how the machine is going to be used, and which vital signs will regularly be recorded. A hospital will have several vital signs monitors for different purposes. Some will be mobile and others will be fixed in position.
A larger clinic will have multiple vital monitors to assure the patient data they are collecting is accurate and managed efficiently. In general clinical settings, the ideal machine can function both as a stationary device or used on a rolling cart.
Vital signs monitor for ambulances need to be compact, mobile versions of the monitoring equipment.
Battery life is an important factor when considering which machines to purchase, especially if a portable device is needed. Battery backup power is important before and after surgery so the monitor can be moved along with the patient.
Vital Monitor Brands
USA Medical and Surgical Supplies offers a large selection of name brand surgical and medical supplies. Name brands of vital sign monitors are available such as:
These respected brands have an excellent reputation in the marketplace. By choosing the equipment that has the features you require, you can trust in any one of these manufacturers recommended by USA Medical and Surgical Supplies.
Accessories and Optional Configurations
Many connected electronic monitors are available in several configurations, designed to meet the specific needs of the patient and medical facility.
For example, the ADC ADView 2 Modular Diagnostic Station base unit includes:
There are 5 additional optional configurations.
With the six different options (the base unit and five additional configurations), every clinic and hospital can determine the right monitor for their specific application and budget.
Another example of good configurations is the Welch Allyn Connex Spot Vital Signs 7100 series monitors. The Connex Spot Vital Signs 7100 series monitors begin with great features and then offer a variety of additional customization options. You can choose between a combination of thermometers, SpO2, and more. The customizable options of the Welch Allyn Vital Signs Monitors make them an excellent investment for hospitals and clinics alike.
Vital Signs Monitor Costs
When making a purchase decision on behalf of a medical facility, budgetary limitations require the buyer to maximize the value of every piece of equipment. Monitoring systems are necessary to provide quality patient care, improve staff workflow, and increase patient satisfaction.
Generally, the features of the monitor will dictate the price point. For example, a small, portable vital signs monitor like the ADC ADView 2 Modular Diagnostic Station can be purchased for less than $700. In contrast, a powerful, customized wall unit such as the Mortara Surveyor S19 Patient Monitor-Touchscreen Color Display can run closer to $7,000.
Welch Allyn vital signs monitors range from less than $700 for a Welch Allyn Connex ProBP 3400 Digital Blood Pressure Device up to between $2,100 for the Welch Allyn Connex Spot Vital Signs Monitor 7100 base unit, depending on the configuration. USA Surgical and Medical Supplies offers discounts on these units, so you can be sure each device offers maximum value.
Where to Buy a Vital Monitor Machine
Vital signs monitors efficiently collect accurate data for evaluating patient health. Doctors, nurses, paramedics and other medical professionals all rely on reports from vital monitors. Decisions must be made quickly regarding a diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
Monitors come in many configurations for a variety of specific applications. Each hospital, clinic or ambulance service requires equipment for different purposes, and with unique budgetary concerns. Staff members often have personal preferences when it comes to brands or specific models.
The intended use of the equipment is the most important factor in the decision-making process. Hospitals often have several different models for specific purposes in each department. In this case, it is beneficial to choose a mix of mobile units and fixed monitors for maximum usability.
Larger clinics may only have a few portable units which ensure their patients’ data is collected accurately and managed efficiently. In more generalized clinical settings, monitoring machines are often used as both a stationary unit and on a rolling cart. Ambulances require the lightest and most compact mobile devices available.
The most efficient method of determining exactly which monitor will be most suitable for your location is to contact a specialist. USA Medical and Surgical Supplies has experts available who know the details of each vital signs monitor, and their specific applications.
For more information or guidance in the purchasing process for vital monitors, please call 888-215-0718, or email us at sales@usamedicalsurgical.com. We look forward to assisting you today.