A vital signs monitor measures the fundamental functions of a person’s health, including temperature, pulse, respiration rate, and blood pressure. Abnormal measurements of any of these functions can indicate issues that require medical care. And normal measurements indicate healthy systems.
Malfunctioning vital signs monitors damage a health-care worker’s ability to appropriately treat patients. Read below for more information on how to know when to replace your vital signs monitor.
Inaccurate Readings
A good sign that it’s time to replace your vital signs monitor is when it gives inaccurate readings. Vital signs data, in conjunction with the patient’s medical history and physical assessment, give health-care providers an understanding of how a patient is doing at the given moment. So it’s imperative that your facility’s equipment functions correctly.
Of course, a machine might give an inaccurate reading due to human errors. For example, applying the wrong size blood pressure cuff or incorrectly positioning the patient or the cuff can cause a false measurement. But when wrong readings aren’t due to errors in method, they are a sign that it’s time to replace your vital signs monitor.
Damaged Parts
Your equipment can become compromised when individual components degrade or become damaged. Parts can wear out over time, and even daily treatment, such as the way you store the equipment, can damage elements of your vital signs monitor.
Sometimes the damage is easy to see, like a cracked screen or case. Other times, you might need to do a more thorough inspection. For example, if your blood pressure cuff gives inaccurate readings, take a closer look at the hose and the cuff. Since many people repeatedly wrap up blood pressure cuffs and stuff them away, the hose can sustain cracks, or you can tear the cuff, leading to leaks.
If you can’t see the problem yourself, have either someone from your repair department or a third party look at it. Even when you can’t see the problem, you can often see signs, such as false readings or even strange smells and sounds coming from the device.
Follow your facility’s procedures for faulty equipment. Also, make sure that staff members know not to use the damaged device. You can prevent anyone from using it by pulling the vital signs monitor from service.
Poor Power
Power supply issues are another way to know when to replace your vital signs monitor. If the equipment fails to turn on, check the power cord. When the cord wiggles loose, it depletes the battery. The battery itself might also have an issue; over time, batteries can fail to hold a charge.
Power issues could stem from problems with the power supply, the user interface, motherboard, or CPU. The user interface includes parts that help you interact with the device, such as a touchscreen, display screen, or keyboard. The motherboard connects all the computing components, and the CPU processes data and computes.
When these components malfunction, you might read the signs as power issues. If you experience a blank screen, unresponsive keys, or problems powering up or staying on, these parts might have suffered from damage. So it could be time for a new vital signs monitor.
You Have Expanded Your Practice
If you’re offering new procedures at your facility or your medical practice now has a greater patient load, you need your equipment to keep up. Upgrading your vital signs monitors might be necessary to meet the new standard of care.
In general, the more complicated the procedure, the more functions you want your vital signs monitor to evaluate. For example, monitoring vital signs becomes more complex when you have to sedate a patient.
You want a reliable, accurate, and fast machine that staff can easily interact with. A single monitor that tracks many functions helps streamline the process and saves physical space.
You Want Greater Uniformity
If your vital signs monitor is outdated, new technology can improve your medical practice. Rather than running a hodgepodge of old devices, you can invest in new vital signs monitors and simplify your facility’s technology. This makes it easier for your staff to take care of patients.
For example, rather than having multiple monitor types in different rooms, install the same type. This way, providers can work seamlessly between spaces without confusion. This saves time and promotes a calm work environment by eliminating unnecessary hassle. And if one monitor needs servicing, everyone will be familiar with the backup monitor.
You Have Outdated Technology
If your vital signs monitor is old and has outdated technology, it could negatively impact how quickly you can attend to patients. New vital signs monitors are easy to work with and provide data quickly. You can upgrade the machines in your facility to take advantage of this advanced data processing power and user-friendliness.
You want to choose an intuitive device that your staff can use without extensive training. The monitor menus should be easy to understand with clear displays. Also, they should quickly register patient functions. Talk to your staff about the equipment to learn more about wait times and technical difficulties to see if outdated technology negatively affects your patient flow.
You Want To Improve Patient Care
The final sign that you should replace your vital signs monitor is that you want to improve patient care. Manufacturers constantly test their products and accept input from medical practitioners. And innovation gives these companies a competitive edge. That’s why new iterations of vital signs monitors incorporate improvements over previous models.
Manufacturers fine-tune these new and improved versions of vital signs monitors for their intended environments and usage. Whether you’re looking for a monitor to place in a confined space, such as a trauma bay, or something less constricted, you can find the best product for your needs. Since medical staff members rely on vital signs information to make critical decisions, using the best monitors for the procedure can make a difference in the patient’s quality of care.
Upgrade Your Vital Signs Monitor With All States M.E.D.
All States M.E.D. supplies medical facilities across the country with reliable vital signs monitors. Our inventory of blood pressure equipment for sale can improve your practice, so upgrade your equipment for precise and fast measurements. Shop our selection or contact us today for more information.
