Patient Monitor：The Ultimate Guide for Medical Facility

Patient monitors are essential equipment that is of great help to patients and caregivers. Getting one that is affordable and which suits your hospital needs is key to dispensing quality health care.

This guide is here to inform you of all you need to know before buying a patient monitor, what it is, what types there are, and what it is used for. We hope that it helps you make an informed decision on what's best for your hospital!

What is a Patient Monitor?

A patient monitor is a medical device that takes and displays a patient's vital signs and heart activity. Heart rate, temperature, blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation levels, and carbon dioxide levels are the most common parameters taken by this apparatus.

A patient monitor could also be referred to by other names such as patient safety monitor, portable patient monitor, hospital patient monitor, ICU patient monitor, multiparameter patient monitor, etc.

A patient monitor should not be confused with remote patient monitoring. While both are similar in application, a significant distinction between the two is that a patient monitor is used to observe and monitor a patient’s vital signs while in the hospital, clinic, or health facility.

On the other hand, remote patient monitoring, or remote physiological monitoring, is the use of digital technologies to monitor and collect medical and other health data from patients who are not necessarily admitted into hospital care. This data is then transmitted electronically to healthcare providers for evaluation and, when required, recommendations and instructions.

Components of a typical patient monitor

A typical monitor has a display screen, sensors, and a translating component. Sometimes they could also contain an alarm system.

The sensors measure changes in body function by detecting electrical triggers from nerve signals, blood pressure readings, or electrocardiographic changes.

The translating component converts the data from sensors into a format that may be displayed on the display device or transmitted to an external display or recording device.

The display screen shows the information that has been detected by the sensors in a numerical output. The display screen of a multi-parameter patient monitor can display many vital parameters at once.

An alarm system, if present, is used to warn doctors or caregivers when there is a serious increase or decrease in the readings of certain parameters

Multipurpose Patient Monitor vs Vital Sign Monitors and Cardiac Monitor

It is not uncommon to find caregivers or nurses refer to vital sign monitors and cardiac monitors as patient monitors. While they may share certain similarities, there is a certain distinction between the two.

Vital signs monitor measures and display a patient’s body temperature, pulse rate (heart rate), blood pressure, and respiratory rate, while a cardiac monitor is a type of bedside monitoring device that displays the heart's electrical activity as a wave pattern on a screen (ECG/EKG).

The key difference between a multipurpose patient monitor and these other devices is that a patient monitor keeps track of basic vital signs, heart activity, and more.

Put simply, a multipurpose patient monitor essentially differs from both a vital signs monitor and a cardiac monitor in the sense that it helps to collect more details than the two combined.

For instance, patient monitors are capable of detecting how much oxygen is present in the bloodstream or how fast a patient is breathing. Those used in ICU operations are even capable of showing how much carbon dioxide a patient is breathing out or how much pressure is on their brain.

Monitoring all of this on a single screen improves the clinical personnel's decision-making process.

Types of Patient Monitors

The two basic types of patient monitors are the portable and stationary kinds.

As the name implies, portable patient monitors are designed to be lightweight and movable from place to place. They are often equipped with mounts and wheels for support and easy transportation.

A stationary patient monitor on the other hand is designed to be fixed either to the patient’s bedside or on a wall. Stationary patient monitors are often bigger than portable monitors and may measure up to 12 inches wide or occasionally more.

Patient Monitor Uses/Applications

A multi-parameter patient monitor is used to track not only basic vital signs but also heart rhythms and other physiological indicators. It may be used to monitor a patient without the need for a clinician to be present.

The monitor is mostly useful in circumstances where patients will require continuous monitoring on one screen. The monitor will notify the medical staff when it discovers concerning patterns.

Factors to Consider Before Buying a Patient Monitor

When buying a patient monitor, these are the essential considerations you should take note of:

Your Hospital Needs

Knowing what needs you want the patient monitor to fulfill is the very first step in buying one. There are many parameters to consider when choosing a patient monitor, such as pulse rate, respiratory rates, ECG waveforms, and blood pressure readings just to name a few.

Know which parameter(s) you want your device to track and buy accordingly: if all types are important then obviously go with the multi-parameter option but if there are specific parameters you wish to monitor then look for a device that does just that such as the vital signs monitor or cardiac monitor.

Printing and Reporting Capabilities

When buying a patient monitor, you might want to go for one that is capable of storing, transmitting, or printing patient data for future observation or comparison. This means that the monitor should have a wired or wireless connection for performing this function.

You should also ensure that if a need for printing arises, the image quality will be high and easy to read.

Medical imaging departments have traditionally prioritized image quality assurance; a lack of attention to it, particularly with the shift from hard copy (film) to soft copy (computer) display technologies, might potentially cause problems when reading photos or even misdiagnosis.

To ensure that no such problems arise, you should ensure that the patient monitor you purchase is capable of printing high-quality images which contain reports of patients.

This, therefore, requires careful selection of patient monitors such that comparable image quality is achieved at a minimum.

Ease Of Use And Compatibility

While patient monitors are designed to be relatively easy to operate, certain models may require less effort than others.

Ease of use essentially entails that the operator should have no difficulty in operating the monitor or using the menu.

A patient monitor with an intuitive touch screen is quite helpful for healthcare professionals in navigating through the menus and obtaining the desired information.

Compatibility entails that existing equipment in your hospital needs to work well with your chosen monitor. If the existing equipment in your hospital or clinic supports internet or Bluetooth connectivity, then it is a good idea to go for a monitor that supports such.

However, if your hospital equipment supports mostly wired connections for data transfer, then patient monitors with USB ports should be your go-to option.

Screen and Storage Size

The display size of the device is another key consideration when buying a patient monitor. A larger screen will make it easier to read vital statistics even if there is some distance between the user and the monitor itself.

It is also important to buy patient monitors that are compact enough to fit where you want to place them. Thankfully, most patient monitors are fairly small and easily storable. There are, however, some models that require more room for storage depending on their features.

Sometimes, finding a balance between a device with a large enough screen and one that is compact enough for easy storage may be tricky.

Often, it eventually boils down to whether you want a portable patient monitor or a stationary one. The former may not have a large screen but it would conserve space, while vice versa is the case for the latter.

Brands

When buying patient monitors, you should go for brands that are reputable and that have the necessary safety and production certificates. Some of the biggest manufacturers of patient monitors are Welch Alynn, GE, Philips, Mindray, etc.

You should ensure that your patient monitor has necessary certificates such as CE, ISO, FDA, GMP certificates, or any certificate issued by a competent authority in your locale.

This is to verify that the machine has been produced according to international standards.

Warranty

When buying patient monitor machines, it is best to go for those with a warranty as these are likely to be more reliable. Ensure that you make the most out of your money by going for equipment that will provide you assurance in terms of durability and the services provided.

Accessories and Optional Configurations

The accessories and modifications available for your patient monitor would determine how well it would serve your needs.

Some patient monitors are equipped with accessories such as USB ports for future upgrades, mounts for standing the monitor for easy access, trolleys for easy movement, etc.

It is important to carefully choose your ideal configuration depending on what you would like to accomplish using your monitor. For example, a connection to a printer may be necessary for doctors who need reports of patients' data in real-time to make critical decisions on the spot.

Finding the right balance between advanced features and ease of use is key so that you don't pay extra money for unnecessary options unless they are required by your hospital needs.

Cost Concerns

When it comes to patient monitors, concerns over cost are always present. However, if you do your research and set clear priorities between different features for your device, you can find a suitable option that will meet your needs while staying within the limits of any budget too.

Buying a new patient monitor is ultimately the best option, however, sometimes, money constraints may necessitate that you go for refurbished patient monitors.

Many companies offer refurbished monitors at lower prices than brand-new devices which is an excellent way to save money without compromising on quality or performance.

The major problem with buying a refurbished patient monitor however is that they may not come with adequate warranties. Even with solid firms that provide warranties, warranties are a problem. They will not cover as much or for as long as a new equipment's warranty.

And perhaps, you won't be eligible for as many services or for as long. This includes anything such as routine maintenance or repairs carried out by the vendor.

Payment Options

Another aspect to consider while purchasing patient monitors is the availability of a variety of payment choices. It's useful to have alternatives that suit your needs.

Suppliers such as Medwish.com offer both product financing and hospital project financing options to help you purchase the machines in a manner best tailored to your financial strength and facility needs.

Patient Monitor Price guide

The prices of patient monitors vary and are majorly dependent on the brand and features present in the machine.

Some of the models of different brands, their price as well as their warranty periods are as follows:

• The GE B125 Patient Monitor costs around 6 000 USD and comes with a warranty period of 12 months.
• The GE Carescape B850 costs around 14, 000 USD and comes with a warranty period of 12 months.
• The PHILIPS IntelliVue X3 Patient monitor will set you back for around 6 000 USD and comes with a warranty period of 12 months.
• The Welch Allyn Connex Patient monitor is a portable patient monitor which costs around 7195 USD.
• The MINDRAY ePM 12m Patient monitor costs around 6000 USD and has a warranty period of 12 months.
• The AG-BZ014 Medical Multi-Parameter Patient Monitor costs around 700 USD. Buying this monitor gives the assurance of receiving financial compensation for losses caused by natural disasters or accidents during the transportation process. 

Where to Buy Patient Monitor in Bulk With Wholesale Pricing

Medwish.com is a fantastic B2B platform to order patient monitors in bulk for your hospital.

Buying in bulk provides clients and healthcare organizations with the benefit of less stress since the MEDWISH.com team collaborates with top service providers in several sectors, such as logistics, customs clearance, and so on to assist customers and healthcare organizations to receive high-quality goods on time.

Wholesale Price Advantage on Medwish.com

Buying patient monitors in bulk from Medwish.com is less expensive than buying them individually. It also aids in the development of a direct relationship with the business.

Ultimately, buying Patient Monitors from Medwish.com helps you to get more facilities for your hospital or health institution and would help in saving costs without compromising on quality and safety.

Medwish.com also offers product financing options and hospital construction financing options to help secure financial collaborations and help you get the best patient monitors with little financial stress.

Final Words

Patient monitors are quite helpful for helping health care professionals keep track of patients health status and they are important additions to any facility

In this guide, we’ve covered what a patient monitor is and what you should look for when buying one. We've also discussed where you can get patient monitors in bulk and at wholesale prices.

Get in touch with Medwish.com today and get quality patient monitors to help your doctors and nurses monitor health parameters better.