by
Carol Ko, Staff Writer | May 01, 2013
From the May 2013 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
Hospitals can get the most out of their monitors by following seven tips provided by Doug Rabkin, president of Buckeye Medical, Robert Gaw Jr., vice president of sales/marketing at Physician’s Resource Network and Ronald Tarr, president of Medelco.
- Careful with the sensor. The SpO2 sensor is prone to damage and costs a couple hundred dollars to replace. Sometimes patients under anesthesia will inadvertently damage the sensor as they toss and turn. Secure the sensor with some tape to ensure it stays put.
- Keep it clean. Clean the paper rollers on a regular basis to avoid jams in the paper feed.
- Take it easy. Go easy on the knobs and buttons, as these are the parts most subject to abuse.
- Play matchmaker. Make sure the patient monitors you buy are compatible with your hospital’s EMR, billing and Meditech systems.
- Replace regularly. Replace heart EKG leads every six months to prevent false or erratic readings on the monitor.
- Out with the old. Avoid using old, expired batteries— they can ruin the monitor.
- Treat ‘em like tires. Inspect your blood pressure cuff and hoses periodically and replace them if they start to show wear.
