Roundtable: Patient Monitors

This month TechNation asked experts about patient monitors to find out the latest advances in these important medical devices. Our panel of experts also shared information on servicing patient monitors and what to look for when purchasing these devices.The panel is made up of Steve Bebb, senior global director, product marketing, patient monitoring, Philips Healthcare; Andy Bonin, president and CEO of Pacific Medical; Stan Grzesiak, BMET, regional director at Medical Electronics; Michele Shahbandeh, owner of Integrity Biomedical Services; Stephen Davis and Shawn Nguyen, lead biomed technicians with USOC Medical; and Steve Ziegenhagen, president of Gopher Medical.

Q: How can purchasers ensure they are making a wise investment in patient monitors?

Bebb: Purchasers should look for established suppliers who have a proven track record as a supplier of high-quality, reliable equipment.

Bonin: Biomed professionals need to be forward thinking and plan out 3-5 years for long-term patient monitoring solutions. Planning for equipment while meeting long-term needs should also fit within the future technology of the hospital. The clinical engineering departments must be set up with mission-critical technical training that is consistent across the hospital for investments in-patient monitoring. This training should also include equipment training and detailed literature on parts and services offered by the manufacturer or vendor.

Davis: The purchaser should research exactly what they will be using the monitor for to ensure they are paying for exactly what they need. Such as options, ease of use for the nurses/doctors, if training on the monitors is included, and if a warranty is given.

Grzesiak: If I didn’t know about patient monitors and was asked to make this type of purchase, I would check with different manufacturers and check their record. How long have they been in business? What facilities are using their products?

Nguyen: Whether it’s bedside monitors or portables, patient monitors come in different varieties to suit the requirements of any hospital and small clinics. They allow continuous monitoring of a patient and health care professionals are informed of changes in the general condition of a patient. I believe these vital sign monitors have a good return on investment when it comes to quality health care and is sustainable to the degree that current and future patients can be treated adequately.

Ziegenhagen: By researching the equipment manufactures and using online tools and websites that will allow them to access evidence-based information to enable more educated decisions on medical equipment, unbiased insight into the proper technology at the best price for their hospital, and strategic guidance to help their hospital cut costs of care and, in the end, improve the quality of outcomes. Hospitals need to consider the upfront cost of interfacing to their existing network, clinician notification and communication systems. Some equipment manufacturers offer a 5-year warranty to get attention of the senior management and biomedical engineering departments. Also, consider asking for long warranty periods.